THEVINLAND 
CHAMPIONS 


OTTIIIE  A.UIJENCRANTZ 


-vy 


THE  VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 


His  eyes  showed  fire,  while  his  voice  was  deep. 


THE 

VINLAND  CHAMPIONS 


BY 
OTT1LIE   A.   LILJENCRANTZ 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  THE  KINNEYS 


NEW    YORK 

D.    APPLETON   AND   COMPANY 
MCMIV 


COPYRIGHT,  1904,  BY 
D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY 


Published.  September,  1904 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

PROLOGUE ix 


PART   FIRST 
THE  BROOD  OF  THE  WIND-RAVEN 

CHAPTER 

I.  CONCERNING  ALREK  OF  THE  VIKING  CAMPS    .        .        3 

II.    IN    WHICH     THE     BOYS    OF    THE    WlND-RAVEN    CON- 
SIDER THE  CHANCES   OF   FINDING  A  SKRAELLING     .        12 

III.  RELATING  HOW  ONE  WAS   FOUND  ON  THE  CAPE  OF 

THE  CROSSES 21 

IV.  WHEREIN    THE    SWORD-BEARER   is    FURTHER    RE- 

MINDED THAT  HE  HAS  BROKEN  THE  LAW        .          .        33 

V.  THROUGH  WHICH  THE  STORM-GIANT  BLUSTERS       .      42 

VI.  ABOUT  THE  STRANGE  FIND  ON  KEEL  CAPE    .        .      52 

VII.  CONCERNING  THORFINN  KARLSEFNE,  THE  LAWMAN  .      66 


PART   SECOND 

ALREK'S   CHAMPIONS 

VIII.  AT  THE  HALL  OF  THE  VINLAND  CHAMPIONS  .        .      83 
IX.  ABOUT  THE   HUNTSMAN  AND  THE  BOY  WHO  WAS 

DROWNED 94 

X.  THROUGH  WHICH  THE  CHAMPIONS  CHASE  VINLAND 

ELK  108 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

XI.  TELLING  HOW  TRADE   WITH    THE    SKRAELLINGS 

CAME  TO  A   MYSTERIOUS   END        .  .  .  .117 

XII.  IN  WHICH    THE   CHAMPIONS  FEEL  THEIR   IMPOR- 
TANCE   134 

XIII.  GIVING    THE    REASON    WHY    THE    SKRAELLINGS 

FLED 144 

XIV.  SHOWING  HOW  DISGRACE  CAME  UPON  ALREK  THE 

CHIEF  ....  149 


PAET  THIKD 

THE  HUNTSMAN'S  PREY 

XV.  ABOUT  THE  FIRE-THAT-RUNS-ON-THE- WAVES         .    163 
XVI.  PROVING   THAT   ALREK'S    EMPTY    HANDS    WERE 

FULL   OF   POWER  ....'..      176 

XVII.  SHOWING  HOW  THE  CHAMPIONS  BROKE  A  THREAD 

IN  THE  HUNTSMAN'S  NET 188 

XVIII.  CONCERNING  A  GRIM  BARGAIN  BETWEEN  THE  LAW- 
MAN AND  ALREK 202 

XIX.  RELATING   THE  ADVENTURE  WITH  THE  MEN  OF 

THE  FOREST 213 

XX.  SHOWING    HOW    THE    HUNTSMAN    BAGGED    HIS 

GAME 226 

XXI.  IN  WHICH  ALREK  SWORD-BEARER  FACES  DEATH  .    239 


EPILOGUE 253 


VI 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 


FACING 
PAGE 


His  eyes  showed  fire,  while  his  voice  was  deep 

Frontispiece 

Neither  sound  nor  motion  was  on  his  blue  lips   .        .  51 
She    ladled    curds    from    her    bowl    into    the    gaping 

mouth 124 

With  no  other  weapon  than  his  bare  brown  hands      .  182 


Vll 


PROLOGUE 


IT  happened  first  in  the  history  of  the  New 
World  lands  that  the  Northman  Biorn  Herjulfsson 
saw  them  when  he  had  lost  his  way  in  journeying 
to  Greenland.  But  he  lacked  the  adventuresome- 
ness  to  go  ashore  and  explore  them. 

Then  Leif  the  Lucky,  son  of  Eric  the  Red  of 
Greenland,  heard  of  the  omission  and  set  out  to 
remedy  it.  He  rediscovered  the  lands  and  went 
upon  them  and  named  them,  after  which  he  built 
booths  at  a  place  he  called  Vinland  and  passed  a 
winter  there. 

Next,  Leif's  brother  Thorwald  Ericsson  came 
over  the  ocean ;  but  his  luck  was  less  for  he  was 
shipwrecked  on  one  cape  and  killed  on  another,  and 
his  men  returned  disheartened. 

He  was  followed  by  the  third  brother,  Thor- 
stein ;  but  this  expedition  had  no  success  whatever 
for  they  spent  a  whole  summer  in  wandering  in  a 
circle  that  landed  them  finally  upon  the  west  coast 

ix 


PROLOGUE 


of  Greenland  itself.  And  here  Thorstein  died  of  a 
plague,  leaving  his  young  wife  Gudrid  to  return  to 
the  hospitality  of  Leif  at  Brattahlid. 

The  explorer  who  came  next  and  who  did  the 
most  was  Thorfinn  Karlsefne  of  Iceland.  While 
he  was  visiting  at  Brattahlid  he  married  Gudrid, 
the  widow  of  Thorstein,  and  she — together  with 
others — talked  to  him  so  much  about  the  new  lands 
that  he  resolved  upon  settling  them.  In  the  spring 
of  1 007  he  set  out  from  Greenland  with  three  ships 
heavily  laden  and  came  to  Vinland  and  wakened 
the  sleeping  camp  to  new  life. 

This  story  begins  on  an  autumn  day  in  the  sec- 
ond year  of  Karlsefne's  settlement,  and  on  board 
the  little  ship  called  the  Wind-Raven  which  he  had 
sent  out  at  the  beginning  of  summer  to  explore  the 
eastern  coast. 


PART   FIRST 

THE    BROOD    OF   THE    WIND-RAVEN 


CHAPTER    I 

CONCERNING   ALREK    OF    THE    VIKING    CAMPS 

FOR  four  days  the  Wind-Raven  had  drifted 
blindfold  in  a  fog,  and  now  the  fifth  day  had 
dawned  with  no  prospect  of  release  and  the 
explorers  were  hard  put  to  it  for  amusement.  On 
the  after-deck  the  helmsman  had  sought  comfort 
in  his  ale  horn ;  spread  over  the  benches  below,  the 
two-score  men  of  the  crew  were  killing  time  with 
chess  games;  and  the  twenty-odd  boys  who  com- 
pleted the  company  had  turned  the  forepart  of  the 
ship  into  a  swimming  beach  around  which  they 
sported  with  the  zest  of  young  seals.  On  the 
murky  waves  their  yellow  heads  bobbed  like  so 
many  oranges.  The  forecastle  swarmed  with  them 
as  they  chased  one  another  across  it,  their  wet 
bodies  glimmering  moth-like  in  the  gray  ness.  And 
the  first  two  benches  were  covered  with  those  whom 
lack  of  breath  had  induced  to  pause  and  burrow 
in  the  heaps  of  clothing  scattered  there. 

3 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

The  center  of  the  group  of  loungers  was  a 
brown-haired  brown-eyed  brown-cheeked  boy  re- 
lating with  a  grin  of  appreciation  a  story  of 
Viking  horse-play.  The  laughter  which  applauded 
him  ceased  only  when  a  lad  with  a  sword 
approached  and  set  the  laughers  to  dodging 
thrusts. 

"  Your  noses  are  as  blue  as  Gudrid's  eyes," 
the  newcomer  scoffed,  sprinkling  them  with  tosses 
of  his  dripping  red  mane.  "  Rouse  up,  Alrek  of 
Norway,  and  have  a  bout  with  me  to  set  your  blood 
to  moving." 

The  brown-eyed  boy  looked  around  without 
enthusiasm ;  and  from  the  others  rose  a  disparaging 
chorus : 

"  There  are  more  chances  that  you  will  set  your 

own  blood  to  running "  "  Hallad  once  had  the 

same  belief  in '  "  Perhaps  the  water  has 

blurred  the  Red-Head's  memory  so  he  thinks  it  was 
he  who  won  the  dwarfs'  sword  last  winter." 

The  Red-Haired  became  also  the  Red-Cheeked ; 
he  was  overgrown  and  undisciplined  and  his  temper 
appeared  to  be  hung  as  loosely  as  his  limbs.  "  If 
you  allow  him  to  think,"  he  cried,  "  that  we  twenty 

4 


ALREK   OF   THE   VIKING   CAMPS 

Greenlanders  are  afraid  to  fight  him  because  he 
was  bred  in  a  Viking  camp  while  we  are  farm- 
reared,  I  will  challenge  him  where  I  stand."  He 
was  swelling  his  chest  as  if  to  devote  his  next 
breath  to  defiance,  when  he  was  prevented  by  Alrek 
of  Norway  himself. 

"  I  will  not  fight  you,  but  you  may  have  your 
way  about  fencing,"  the  young  Viking  consented, 
rising  leisurely  and  laying  aside  his  cloak  of  soldier 
scarlet.  Emerging  from  its  folds,  it  could  be  seen 
that  besides  his  brownness  he  was  distinguished 
among  his  companions  for  the  soldierly  erectness 
with  which  he  bore  his  broad-shouldered  thin- 
flanked  young  body,  and  the  compactness  of  the 
muscles  that  played  under  his  burnished  skin  with 
the  strong  grace  of  a  young  tiger's. 

While  he  dug  up  his  dwarf -made  weapon  from 
the  mound  of  his  clothing,  the  Red  One  ran  up  to 
the  forecastle  and  kicked  clear  of  ropes  and  gar- 
ments a  space  in  the  center;  and  the  loungers 
hitched  themselves  around  to  face  the  deck,  and 
joined  in  elbowing  off  the  swimmers  as  they  came 
splashing  in  to  see  the  sport. 

Sport  it  unquestionably  was  at  the  beginning, 
5 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

for  the  camp-bred  boy  set  the  tune  to  a  tripping 
measure  that  made  the  graceful  blades  seem  to  be 
kissing  each  other.  Back  and  forth  and  up  and 
down  they  went  as  in  a  dance,  parry  answering 
thrust  so  evenly  that  the  ear  grew  to  anticipate  the 
clash  and  keep  time  to  it  as  to  music.  But  presently 
this  very  forbearance  nettled  the  farm-bred  lad  so 
that  he  broke  the  rhythm  with  an  unexpected 
stroke.  Passing  Alrek's  guard,  it  opened  a  red 
wound  upon  his  brown  breast.  He  accepted  it  with 
a  grimace  as  good-humored  as  his  fencing,  but  his 
opponent  was  unwise  enough  to  let  fly  a  cry  of  tri- 
umph. Alrek's  expression  changed.  The  next  time 
the  Greenlander  made  use  of  that  thrust,  his  blade 
was  met  with  a  force  that  jarred  his  arm  to  the 
shoulder.  Under  the  hurt  of  it,  he  struck  spitefully. 
Alrek  answered  in  kind.  Slowly,  the  even  beat  gave 
way  to  jerks  of  short  sharp  clatter,  separated  by 
pauses  during  which  the  two  worked  around  each 
other  with  squaring  mouths  and  kindling  eyes. 

With  the  beginning  of  the  clatter,  a  short  old 
man  called  Grimkel  One-Eye  and  a  long  young 
man  known  as  Hjalmar  Thick-Skull,  sitting  at 
chess  behind  the  mast,  had  put  down  their  pieces 

6 


ALREK   OF   THE   VIKING   CAMPS 

to  listen.  Now,  the  discord  continuing,  old  Grimkel 
left  his  place  and  strolled  forward  to  the  forecastle 
steps.  Spying  blood  spots  on  the  Greenlander's 
white  shoulders,  he  made  Alrek  of  Norway  a  sign  of 
warning.  But  the  Viking  boy  did  not  even  see  him. 

Over  the  spectators  such  stillness  had  fallen 
that  the  scuffle  and  slap  of  the  bare  feet  upon  the 
boards  sounded  with  sickening  distinctness.  The 
in-drawn  breaths  made  a  hiss  when,  more  swiftly 
than  eye  could  follow,  Alrek's  blade  described  a 
new  curve  which  the  other's  sword  could  not  meet. 
To  save  himself  from  being  spitted,  the  Green- 
lander  was  forced  to  leap  backward.  Leaping, 
his  back  came  against  the  gunwale  with  a  crash 
which  told  that  further  retreat  would  be  impossible. 
From  the  watchers  burst  a  cry,  but  no  recollection 
relaxed  the  terrible  intentness  of  the  young 
Viking's  eyes  as  a  second  time  he  drew  back  his  arm 
to  speed  that  lightning  stroke.  The  Red  One's 
rashness  would  have  been  his  bane  if  the  old  man 
had  not  sprung  upon  the  deck  and  caught  Alrek's 
elbow. 

"  Do  you  remember  that  you  are  playing?  " 
he  growled. 

2  7 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

If  he  needed  an  answer  he  had  it  in  the  savage 
force  with  which  the  boy  tore  himself  free,  and  the 
fierceness  with  which  he  whirled,  before  the  meaning 
of  the  words  came  home  to  him  so  that  he  lowered 
his  point. 

"  You  guess  well,"  he  muttered.  "  I  had 
altogether  forgotten."  Half  angrily  he  turned 
back  to  the  Greenlander.  "  Why,  in  the  Fiend's 
name,  did  you  not  remind  me  ?  " 

Though  much  blood  from  his  scratches  was  on 
the  Red  One's  body  and  little  was  in  his  cheeks,  he 
still  tried  to  swagger.  "  I  am  no  coward,"  he  pro- 
claimed. But  on  the  last  word  his  voice  broke  so 
hysterically  that  Grimkel  thought  it  the  part  of 
kindness  to  interfere,  and  did  so,  his  kindness 
masking  as  usual  under  gruff  severity. 

"  You  are  a  fool,  which  is  worse,"  the  old  man 
snapped,  pushing  him  roughly  down  the  steps, 
while  with  his  head  he  motioned  those  below  to 
disperse.  "  Go  put  on  sense  with  your  clothes. 
Get  dressed,  all  of  you.  If  you  do  not  do  as  I  tell 
you,  you  will  feel  it."  When  he  had  shaken  his  fist 
at  them  once  or  twice  and  finally  seen  himself 
obeyed,  he  turned  back  where  Alrek  stood  drying 

8 


ALREK   OF   THE   VIKING    CAMPS 

his  weapon  on  a  cloak  he  had  thrown  around  him. 
"  You !  Listen !  I  have  a  warning  I  want  to  speak 
to  you." 

"  You  would  do  better  to  warn  the  Red-Head 
against  stirring  me  up  again,"  the  young  Viking 
returned,  still  half  angrily;  but  the  One-Eyed 
heard  him  as  a  rock  hears  a  wave-splash. 

"  Before  now,  I  have  reminded  you  that  your 
father  was  an  outlaw 

"That  you  have!"  Alrek  assented.  "Six 
times  have  I  heard  the  tale  since  I  touched  Green- 
land, though  I  lived  eight  years  in  the  camps  with- 
out hearing  it  once!  In  Norway,  men  remember 
only  that  my  father  was  the  bravest  of  the  Earl's 
Vikings." 

"  In  Iceland,  they  remember  that  before  he 
became  a  Viking  he  was  an  outlaw,"  the  old  man 
went  on  inperturbably,  "  and  so  like  your  father 
are  you  in  looks  that  every  eye  is  watching  to  find 
his  unruliness  in  you.  Now  what  I  would  tell  you 
is  that  if  you  do  not  bridle  this  Viking  fierceness, 
you  will  ruin  yourself  with  Karlsefne." 

The  boy  uttered  a  sudden  short  laugh.  "  Is 
it  possible  that  I  could  get  less  honor  with  him?  " 

9 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

he  jeered;  and  polished  awhile  in  tight-lipped 
silence.  At  last  he  straightened  to  meet  the  other's 
gaze  and  his  eyes  showed  fire,  while  his  voice  was 
deep  with  resentment.  "  I  am  Karlsefne's  brother's 
son,  but  I  get  less  praise  from  him  than  his  thralls. 
He  notices  his  dogs  more  often  than  he  notices  me. 
It  is  difficult  to  know  what  he  expects  of  me.  I 
believe  that  he  hated  my  father." 

Grimkel  rubbed  his  bristly  chin  upon  his  palm. 
"  It  cannot  be  said  that  Karlsef ne  has  a  fondness 
for  outlaws.  So  great  is  his  love  for  the  law  that 
he  was  called  '  the  Lawman  '  before  ever  the  chiefs 
who  came  with  him  on  this  expedition  chose  him 
to  be  over-chief  in  Vinland.  Yet  neither  can  it  be 
said  that  he  hated  his  brother.  While  they  were 
young  their  love  was  great  toward  each  other ;  and 
when  Ingolf,  your  father,  broke  the  Iceland  law, 
Karlsefne  gave  half  his  property  to  pay  the  fine. 
And  when  Ingolf  died,  Karlsefne  brought  you  into 
his  following " 

"  Where  he  shows  every  day  that  he  holds  me 
in  dishonor  for  being  his  brother's  son,"  Alrek 
finished. 

The  old  man  spat  over  the  gunwale  with  ex- 
10 


ALREK   OF   THE   VIKING   CAMPS 

plosive  impatience.  "  Simpleton !  He  holds  you 
neither  in  honor  nor  dishonor — yet.  He  but  waits 
to  see  which  you  will  earn." 

Slowly,  understanding  dawned  in  the  boy's 
face;  turning  away  he  stood  kicking  at  a  pile  of 
walrus-hide  thongs  coiled  on  the  deck  before  him. 

Grimkel  concluded  his  plea  earnestly ;  "  You 
cannot  say  that  this  is  unfair.  It  lies  with  you  to 
take  whichever  you  want.  For  my  part,  I  believe 
that  you  will  do  him  credit  in  every  respect.  It 
is  because  I  believe  this,  and  because  I  loved  your 
father  in  the  days  when  he  was  your  height  and 
I  taught  him  spear-throwing,  that  I  speak." 

After  a  while,  Alrek  said  gravely,  "  I  take  it 
as  very  friendly  of  you." 

He  said  nothing  further,  finishing  his  rubbing 
in  silence  and  in  silence  descending  the  steps,  but 
his  advice-giver  needed  no  more  than  one  eye  to 
see  that  at  last  he  understood  the  difficulties  of  his 
position. 


11 


CHAPTER    II 

IN    WHICH    THE    BOYS     OF     THE    WIND-RAVEN    CON- 
SIDER THE   CHANCES   OF   FINDING 
A  SKRAELLING 

MEANWHILE,  something  was  happening  aft. 
Over  his  horn  the  helmsman  discovered  that  a  thin 
place  in  the  fog  vail  was  wearing  into  a  hole, 
through  which  could  be  seen  a  low  coast  ending  far 
ahead  in  a  cloud-like  hill. 

"  The  Cape  of  the  Crosses !  "  he  broke  the  news, 
and  the  word  was  caught  and  tossed  along  like  a 
ball. 

"  The  Cape  of  the  Crosses !  The  last  point 
we  must  touch  at ! "  the  men  cheered  as  they 
hurried  to  get  up  sail  and  put  about  for  the  open- 
ing door. 

And  the  twenty  lads,  busy  settling  beltfuls  of 
knives  over  tunics  of  deerskin,  plunged  into  such 
eager  anticipation  of  the  joys  of  the  landing  that 
it  was  no  time  at  all  before  they  were  scuffling  with 

12 


FINDING   A    SKRAELLING 


the  Red  One,  whose  smarting  wounds  made  him 
particularly  perverse.  By  the  time  Alrek  had  got 
into  his  tunic  and  buckled  on  the  beautiful  weapon 
that  gave  him  his  nickname  of  "  the  Sword-Bear- 
er," he  was  obliged  to  weather  a  storm  of  nutshells 
in  order  to  join  the  group.  It  took  all  the  persua- 
sion of  the  stout  comely  fellow  called  Erlend 
the  Amiable  to  bring  them  back  to  peaceful 
discussion. 

"  We  were  talking  of  going  ashore  to-morrow 
and  considering  about  whether  there  is  any  good 
chance  that  Skraellings  may  be  there  now,"  he 
explained,  when  he  could  make  himself  heard. 

The  subject  attracted  Alrek.  Strolling  over  to 
the  Amiable  One's  bench,  he  stretched  himself  upon 
it  and  made  his  head  comfortable  on  Erlend's  gay 
blue  cloak.  "  Now  it  had  fallen  out  of  my  mind," 
he  mused,  "  that  it  was  here  that  the  inhabitants 
killed  Thorwald  Ericsson,  when  he  went  up  on  land 
and  found  three  boats  with  three  men  hiding  under 
each " 

"  What  is  your  tongue  wagging  about  ?  "  Ketil 
the  Glib  interrupted.  "  It  was  not  those  men  that 
killed  him;  he  killed  all  of  them  but  one,  who  es- 

13 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

caped  in  a  boat.  It  was  the  host  which  that  one 
brought  back  that  shot  arrows  into  him  until — " 
He  was  interrupted  in  his  turn  by  a  piece  of  sail- 
cloth which  the  red-haired  boy  threw  over  his 
head. 

"  Gabbler !  He  knew  that  story  before  you  had 
chipped  the  shell,"  the  Red  One  snubbed  him.  "  Go 
on,  Alrek,  and  say  whether  you  think  it  is  to  be  ex- 
pected that  we  will  see  any." 

The  Sword-Bearer  shrugged  his  shoulders. 
"  You  should  have  the  best  judgment  about  that, 
Brand  Erlingsson,  for  you  were  visiting  your 
brother  Rolf  at  Brattahlid  when  Thorwald's  men 
brought  back  the  tidings  of  his  death.  You  know 
whether  or  not  it  is  their  belief  that  Skraelings  live 
on  the  Cape." 

The  Red  One — who,  it  appeared,  answered  also 
to  the  name  of  Brand  Erlingsson — replied  earn- 
estly. He  said  that  Thorwald's  men  did  not  be- 
lieve that  the  creatures  lived  there,  but  that  they 
inhabited  the  mainland  and  only  visited  the  Cape 
for  clams  or  something ;  that  the  Cape  was  no  more 
than  a  thin  land-neck,  that  ended  in  a  kind  of 
cross-bar  composed  of  a  beach  connecting  two  hills ; 

14 


FINDING   A    SKRAELLING 


and  that  it  could  not  possibly  have  anything  of 
interest  on  it ;  whereas,  if  they  could  go  on  to  Keel 

But  there  the  shell  shower  recommenced,  amid  a 
protesting  chorus ;  "  Do  not  let  him  get  started — " 
"  End  his  noise !  "  "  He  is  always  sputtering !  " 
And  Strong  Domar  extinguished  the  last  sputter 
by  a  wild  whoop  as  he  tossed  up  his  cap  in  celebra- 
tion. 

"  However  it  stands,  our  chance  for  catching 
some  there  on  a  visit  is  as  good  as  Thorwald's! 
Luck  be  with  us !  "  he  shouted.  Whereupon  he 
tossed  up  his  neighbor's  cap — being  much  given  to 
good-natured  jests  of  the  fists — and  the  jubilee 
would  have  been  general  if  it  had  not  suddenly  been 
discovered  that  Alrek  was  slowly  shaking  his  head 
on  its  blue  pillow. 

"Why  not?"  they  paused  to  demand. 

When  he  had  taken  his  full  time  about  chewing 
and  swallowing  a  mouthful  of  nuts,  he  told  them; 
"  Because  we  lack  Thorwald's  energy  at  the  helm. 
He  went  ashore  so  soon  after  he  cast  anchor  that  the 
men  on  the  Cape  did  not  have  time  to  get  away. 
We  shall  remain  quiet  a  whole  night  after  we  come 

15 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

to  anchor.  If  it  should  happen  that  any  Skraellings 
are  there,  they  would  have  plenty  of  light  to  see  us 
by,  and  the  whole  night  to  escape  in.  Little  dan- 
ger is  there  that  the  Weathercock  will  break  the 
Lawman's  order  to  keep  peace  with  the  inhabit- 
ants ;  but  if  Karlsef  ne  is  to  be  any  better  off  about 
news  of  them,  he  will  find  it  needful  to  put  a 
shrewder  man  at  the  steering  oar." 

The  celebration  died  in  mid-air ;  no  more  chance 
was  there  of  denying  the  argument  than  of  remedy- 
ing the  fact.  What  comfort  they  could  get  out  of 
blaming  the  helmsman,  they  took ;  then  returned 
one  by  one  to  a  gloomy  munching  of  nuts  from  the 
store  under  the  benches.  In  the  lull,  Brand  of 
Greenland  found  opportunity  to  vent  the  rest  of  his 
dissatisfaction. 

"  Neither  will  any  good  come  to  us  out  of  these 
trips,  while  the  Weathercock  steers !  "  he  burst  out, 
shaking  the  hair  from  his  bright  impatient  eyes. 
"  These  five  months,  we  have  gone  ashore  only  when 
there  was  no  chance  for  adventure  to  result  from  it ; 
and  so  have  I  tired  of  this  trough  that  I  could 
gnaw  the  edge  of  it  as  a  horse  gnaws  his  stall! 
Sooner  than  I  shall  make  another  voyage  under  his 
16 


FINDING   A    SKRAELLING 


leadership,  I  will  paddle  back  to  Greenland  in  a 
skin-boat !  " 

The  fact  that  they  all  agreed  with  him  did  not 
prevent  them  from  jeering  through  their  mouth- 
fuls.  Even  his  loyal  younger  brother,  Olaf  the 
Fair,  showed  a  merry  face  under  his  yellow  curls. 

"  You  speak  too  small  words !  Say  that  you 
would  build  a  dragon-ship  and  have  sole  power  over 
it,"  he  mocked, — then  scrambled  discreetly  out  of 
reach  as  Brand  turned  on  him. 

"  Well— -I  could!  "  the  Red  One  defied  the  uni- 
verse. "  King  Half  owned  a  ship  and  headed  a 
band  when  he  was  no  more  than  twelve  winters 
old " 

Jeers  cut  him  short.  "  King  Half!  He  will 
liken  himself  to  Olaf  Tryggvasson  next !  "  "  You 
great  donkey,  you !  "  "  No — calf,  with  the  milk 
of  his  kinsman's  dairy-farm  still  in  him !  "  cried  the 
unoccupied  mouths,  while  the  full  ones  grinned 
broadly. 

Only  Alrek,  smiling  up  at  the  sky,  said  whim- 
sically ;  "  Give  me  leave  to  travel  with  you  when  it 
is  built,  champion.  I  should  like  to  be  on  a  ship 
that  would  come  and  go  according  to  my  will.  For 

17 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

one  thing,  I  should  like  to  go  ashore  to-night  to 
see  Thorwald  Ericsson's  grave.  The  Huntsman 
told  me  once,  when  I  laughed  at  his  magic,  that  if 
ever  I  stood  beside  a  grave  in  the  noon  of  night  I 
should  know  what  fear  was.  It  has  long  been  in 
my  mind  to  prove  him  a  liar,  but  no  other  grave 
than  Thorwald's  is  in  the  new  land.  If  we  were  on 
your  ship  now " 

"What  is  to  be  said  against  swimming?"  in- 
quired Gard  the  Ugly,  from  the  bench  where  he  sat 
weaving  fish-nets, — for  it  was  a  trace  of  the  thrall 
blood  which  was  in  him,  that,  although  he  was 
free,  his  great  hands  were  always  busy  with  some 
service. 

"  Hallad,  Biorn's  foster-son,  used  that  expe- 
dient once, — and  it  can  not  be  said  that  he  is  of  a 
bold  disposition  even  if  he  did  go  with  the  Hunts- 
man this  summer.  I  am  willing  to  try  it.  We 
can  slip  overboard  shortly  after  it  becomes  dark, 
and  spend  the  time  before  midnight  in  ranging  over 
the  beach, — I  would  give  a  ring  to  get  the  knots 
out  of  my  legs !  Will  you  do  it  ?  " 

Pulling  himself  up  lazily,  Alrek  sat  a  while 
gazing  ahead  where  a  second  hazy  mass,  seemingly 
18 


FINDING   A    SKRAELLING 


as  far  away  as  the  horizon  itself,  was  rapidly  push- 
ing out  from  behind  the  Cape. 

"  Why  not  ?  "  he  responded  at  last.  "  Only, 
the  swimming  part  is  not  to  my  mind ;  I  find  that 
deerskin  dries  on  me  less  easily  than  on  deer.  Be- 
cause of  what  has  been  told  of  the  shallowness  of  the 
harbor,  it  is  unlikely  that  we  shall  anchor  very  near 
to  land;  so  it  is  my  advice  that  we  take  the  small 
boat.  We  can  lower  it  with  little  trouble,  if  there 
is  no  moon,  while  the  men  are  aft  drinking  their 
ale." 

He  rose  as  he  spoke,  and  Gard  leaped  up  also 
and  clapped  him  on  the  back  in  token  that  it  was  a 
bargain;  at  which  the  scoffers  quieted  into  a  sem- 
blance of  interest,  and  Erlend  regarded  him  with 
amusement. 

"  Suppose  it  does  not  happen  that  you  get  a 
chance  to  tell  the  Huntsman  of  your  experience  ?  " 
he  suggested.  "  I  think  it  altogether  unlikely  that 
he  will  return  from  his  trip  to  the  south  country. 
Will  the  entertainment  be  worth  the  exertion  ?  " 

Alrek  gave  him  a  poke  between  his  well-padded 
ribs.  "  A  man  must  risk  something  if  he  wishes  to 
avoid  getting  fat,"  he  answered.  Whereat  the 

19 


THE    VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

Amiable  One  came  in  for  his  share  of  gibing;  and 
during  it,  Gard  put  his  arm  through  the  Sword- 
Bearer's  and  drew  him  forward  to  look  at  the  land. 

The  land  was  worth  looking  at,  certainly,  as  it 
revealed  itself  bit  by  bit  through  the  mellow  haze 
of  the  sunset.  Skimming  toward  it  in  the  path  of 
a  breeze,  it  was  not  long  before  the  sickle-curve  of 
a  harbor  had  drawn  out  from  behind  the  Cape. 
Then  the  inner  of  the  Cape  hills  looked  out  from  its 
hiding  place  beyond  the  seaward  knoll.  Next,  a 
streak  of  white  beach  unfolded  itself  between  them. 
Finally  the  whole  began  to  take  on  color,  gray 
giving  way  to  grayish  green  and  brown  and  red, 
while  the  cold  gleam  along  the  water's  edge  warmed 
into  faint  yellow. 

So  it  lay  motionless  and  soundless  in  the  waning 
light,  the  sun  fading  from  it  in  a  drowsy  smile,  as 
the  helmsman  ordered  the  sail  to  be  lowered  and  the 
anchor  to  be  heaved  overboard,  and  the  little  ship 
settled  into  her  berth  with  a  groan  of  satisfaction. 


CHAPTER    III 

RELATING    HOW     ONE     WAS     FOUND     ON    THE     CAPE 
OF    THE     CROSSES 

A  MEANS  to  while  away  a  long  evening, — that 
was  how  the  pair  looked  upon  the  trip  as  they 
rowed  away  from  the  ship's  stem  while  the  crew 
chatted  over  their  ale  horns  in  the  torchlight  of  the 
stern.  Dreamily  enjoying  the  boat's  motion  and 
the  rhythm  of  their  oars,  they  swung  through  the 
dusk  in  contented  silence;  and  only  once  did  their 
thoughts  reach  the  point  of  speech. 

"  He  is  knowing  in  all  kinds  of  weird  matters, 
your  countryman  the  Huntsman,"  Alrek  said,  rem- 
iniscently.  "  Do  you  remember  the  time  that  he 
was  lost  in  the  unsettled  places  south  of  here,  and, 
after  looking  for  him  far  and  wide,  we  found  him 
lying  flat  upon  a  rock,  mumbling  at  the  sky  ?  He 
said  he  was  making  stanzas  to  Thor,  and  that  it 
was  an  answer  when  a  whale  came  ashore  the  next 

day " 

21 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

"  If  that  is  the  cheer  which  Thor  has  to  offer, 
may  I  never  eat  at  his  house !  "  Gard  grunted. 
"  So  starved  was  I  that  I  ate  a  piece  the  size  of  my 
head,  and — excepting  the  time  of  my  first  storm  at 
sea — it  has  never  happened  to  me  before  to  be  so 
sick !  If  Thor  gives  the  Huntsman  no  better  help 
where  he  is  now,  it  is  likely  to  go  hard  with  him. 
It  is  said  that  the  south  country  is  more  full  of 
Skraellings  than  a  goat  of  fleas.  He  was  a  head- 
strong fool  to  go  there  with  no  more  than  three 
men  and  one  small  boat." 

Alrek  lifted  his  shoulders  indifferently.  "  If 
he  never  comes  back,  the  sea  will  be  no  salter  for 
my  tears,"  he  answered;  and  relapsed  into  silence 
which  was  not  broken  until  their  nearness  to 
land  obliged  him  to  ask  a  question  about  the 
steering. 

If  there  was  a  moon,  it  had  stayed  sulking 
somewhere  behind  something,  leaving  the  world  in  a 
dusk  which  was  equally  far  from  light  and  from 
darkness.  Through  the  gloom  they  had  been  able 
to  steal  off  with  the  boat  in  chuckling  security ;  now 
its  glimmer  was  still  sufficient  to  guide  them  to  a 
landing-place  upon  the  pebble-strewn  sand,  which 

22 


FOUND    ON    THE    CAPE 


ran  like  a  shelf  around  the  base  of  the  seaward  hill. 
Beaching  their  boat  they  clambered  up  the  slope, 
tripping  more  than  once  over  the  fist-big  stones 
which  studded  it,  before  they  entered  breathless  and 
laughing  into  the  grove  that  crowned  the  crest. 

"  Who  cares  about  seeing,  so  long  as  he  can 
feel  earth  under  him !  "  Gard  cried.  And  all  at 
once  he  had  dropped  upon  the  leaf-covered  ground 
and  was  rolling  over  and  over  like  a  horse  just 
freed  from  a  tight  girth,  while  Alrek  stretched  his 
cramped  muscles  in  a  somersault. 

Something  in  the  fragrance  of  the  damp  leaf- 
mold  seemed  to  intoxicate  them.  Presently,  both 
were  whirling  on  their  hands;  and  from  that  they 
went  to  jumping,  and  from  jumping  to  wrestling. 
The  shadows  had  grown  a  finger's  length  before 
they  sank  down  to  get  their  breath. 

As  the  grove  was  nowhere  very  thick  and  the 
sea  gale  had  winnowed  the  leaves,  they  had  not 
looked  about  them  long  before  they  made  out  the 
objects  which  gave  the  Cape  its  name, — the  two 
rude  crosses  of  dead  bleached  wood  rising  in  the  cen- 
ter of  an  open  space  by  the  sea.  Around  it,  fanlike 
pine-boughs  swayed  heavily,  and  that  was  all  there 
3  23 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

was  of  motion;  and  the  only  sound  that  broke  its 
stillness  was  the  splash  of  waves  on  the  sand  below. 
Between  the  Crosses,  a  low  mound  rounded  black 
against  the  gray  water.  Their  hearts  gave  a  little 
throb  as  they  distinguished  it — Thorwald's  grave ! 
Amid  a  chattering  throng  out  in  the  sunlight,  those 
words  had  not  conveyed  much ;  but  here — here  they 
took  on  meaning.  Rising  silently,  the  lads  groped 
their  way  between  the  pines  until  they  stood  be- 
side it. 

Into  Gard's  voice  there  came  a  note  of  awe. 
"  Thorwald  said  this  cape  looked  to  be  a  fine  place 
to  live  in ;  I  wonder  how  he  likes  it  to  be  dead  here  ? 
Strangely  still  must  it  seem  to  him  after  the  bat- 
tle-din of  his  life !  And  strange  feelings  must  have 
been  in  his  men's  minds  when  they  sailed  away  and 
left  him  here,  the  only  white  man  on  this  side  of  the 
ocean." 

"  He  must  have  found  it  lonesome  to  lie  here  by 
himself  for  four  winters,"  Alrek  said  very  gently. 
"  Surely,  if  he  hears  our  voices,  his  heart  must  wel- 
come the  sound.  I  tell  you,  Gard,  I  think  I  should 
not  be  sorry  if  we  found  him  sitting  on  his  grave 
when  we  came  back  at  midnight.  If  we  should  tell 
24 


FOUND   ON   THE   CAPE 


him  that  we  are  his  comrades'  sons  and  relate  to  him 
all  the  news,  it  may  well  be  that  he " 

Gard's  hand  fell  on  his  arm.  "  Hush ! "  he 
entreated.  "  I  do  not  care  what  any  one  says  on 
shipboard,  but  here — !  Suppose  he  should  be  list- 
ening and  take  you  at  your  word !  Brand  says  that 
sooner  than  go  into  a  witch's  den  as  Leif 's  English- 
man did,  he  would  allow  his  arm  to  be  hewn  off, — 
and  a  witch's  temper  is  more  to  be  depended  upon 
than  the  temper  of  a  dead  man.  I  am  not  eager  to 
grasp  his  bony  hand,  if  you  are.  Let  us  go  down 
to  the  beach — But  first,  I  want  to  find  that  knife  I 
dropped.  Will  you  feel  around  that  bush-clump 
where  I  came  down  at  the  last  leap,  while  I  look 
over  the  slope  where  I  stumbled?  " 

"  Certainly,"  Alrek  consented ;  and  picked  his 
way  over  the  uneven  ground  to  the  spot  where  a 
clump  of  sumacs  fringed  the  edge  of  the  hill-crown 
as  it  sloped  down  to  the  beach.  Just  before  he 
stooped  to  feel  for  the  knife,  however,  he  paused  to 
look  around. 

Seaward,  on  his  left,  shone  the  far-away  torches 
of  the  ship,  a  streak  of  brightness  on  the  gray.  Be- 
low him  stretched  the  beach,  its  farther  end  lost  in 

25 


the  looming  shadow  of  a  tree-crowned  hill — he 
blinked  and  leaned  forward  and  blinked  again. 
Out  of  that  shadow,  a  light  had  seemed  to  open  on 
him  like  an  eye !  It  did  not  come  from  the  ship ;  he 
glanced  over  his  shoulder  to  reassure  himself.  It 
came  from  the  hill  across  the  beach,  a  dim  unwink- 
ing eye  which  up  to  this  time  some  obstacle  had 
hidden. 

For  an  instant  he  thought  of  ghost-fires,  and 
cold  trickled  down  his  spine ;  then  came  a  recollec- 
tion that  smote  every  nerve  like  a  cry, — the  Skraell- 
ings !  Some  had  been  trapped  and  had  not  yet  es- 
caped, and  it  was  going  to  fall  to  him  to  get  sight 
of  them !  To  succeed  where  all  the  rest  had  failed ! 
To  be  the  one  to  give  Karlsefne  the  information  he 
wanted!  What  wonder  that  all  recollection  of  the 
knife — even  of  Gard — was  wiped  off  his  brain 
like  breath-mist  off  a  shield ;  that  he  was  obliged  to 
press  his  nails  deep  into  his  flesh  to  get  a  grip  on 
his  excitement! 

"  I  shall  wreck  the  chance  if  I  go  about  it 
hotly,"  he  admonished  himself.  "  It  was  Karl- 
sefne's  strong  command  that  we  do  nothing  to  of- 
fend them.  I  must  steer  it  so  that  I  see  them  with- 
26 


FOUND    ON    THE    CAPE 


out  their  seeing  me, — and  it  is  unadvisable  to  be  too 
slow  in  acting,  either,  or  they  will  have  made  their 
escape !  "  He  put  his  body  in  motion  even  while  his 
mind  was  debating,  but  it  did  not  render  him  less 
cautious.  He  did  not  let  a  finger  of  him  stray  be- 
yond the  shadow  of  the  pines,  nor  did  he  venture 
upon  the  beach  until  he  saw  his  way  clear  before 
him. 

The  only  objects  that  offered  shelter  were  the 
low  hummocks,  crested  with  tufts  of  wiry  grass, 
that  stretched  in  a  broken  chain  between  the 
heights.  From  link  to  link  of  this  he  crawled,  un- 
obtrusive as  a  serpent;  and  when  the  links  were 
wanting  and  gaps  of  glimmering  sand  lay  before 
him,  he  ran  crouching  with  the  light  swiftness  of 
a  fox,  holding  his  breath  in  expectation  of  arrows 
hissing  about  his  ears.  None  came,  however,  and  at 
last  the  shadow  of  the  second  knoll  and  its  spread- 
ing tree-crown  fell  over  him  like  a  canopy.  There 
he  paused  to  listen. 

Once,  an  owl  wailed  tremulously  from  a  dis- 
tant tree ;  and  once,  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  heard 
brush  crackle  as  under  a  stealthy  tread;  then  all 
was  silence  and  the  swish  of  breaking  waves.  Lay- 

27 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

ing  hold  of  a  gnarled  root  that  reached  down  like  a 
writhen  arm,  he  drew  himself  noiselessly  up  the 
slope.  Where  it  flattened  to  the  crest,  a  clump  of 
sassafras  shoots  made  a  fragrant  screen.  When  he 
had  listened  and  found  the  quiet  still  unbroken,  he 
ventured  to  peer  between  the  sprouts. 

So  long  did  he  remain  there  without  moving 
that  the  insects  he  had  startled  began  walking  over 
him  in  restored  confidence.  The  little  nook  was 
empty.  Except  the  patch  of  embers  and  a  litter  of 
clam  shells,  there  was  no  sign  to  prove  that  living 
things  had  ever  been  there.  As  a  final  test,  he  hung 
his  helmet  upon  his  sword  and  showed  it  cautiously 
above  the  bushes,  and  the  decoy  drew  no  arrows 
from  the  thicket  beyond  the  fire ;  the  spot  appeared 
to  be  genuinely  deserted. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  his  disappoint- 
ment brought  him  near  to  tears.  "  They  must 
have  run  away  as  soon  as  darkness  fell,"  he  mut- 
tered. And  pushing  into  the  open,  he  sent  the 
shells  flying  before  a  savage  kick.  "  What  Troll's 
luck!" 

As  the  words  left  his  lips,  the  flying  shells  un- 
covered a  peculiar  bowl-shaped  basket  woven  of 
28 


FOUND    ON    THE    CAPE 


reeds.  He  stooped  to  it  curiously ;  then,  even  as  his 
fingers  closed  on  the  rim,  he  took  another  step  for- 
ward, staring  at  the  bushes  that  hedged  the  further 
side  of  the  open  space. 

"  It  appears  that  some  one  has  plunged 
through  here  in  a  hurry,"  he  told  himself.  "  The 
branches  are  bent  as  if — Odin  !  " 

There  was  no  need  of  finishing  his  thought. 
His  eyes  had  the  answer  before  them,  a  shaggy  fig- 
ure crouching  among  the  bushes,  so  motionless  that 
it  might  have  passed  for  one  of  them.  An  instant 
he  also  stood  motionless,  staring  back  at  the  eyes 
that  he  could  feel  without  seeing;  then  Viking 
training  flashed  two  thoughts  to  his  brain, — that 
the  creature  was  aiming  at  him  from  the  darkness, 
and  that  he  must  lose  no  time  in  advancing. 
Clutching  his  sword-hilt,  he  sprang  forward. 

After  that  there  was  no  chance  for  reflection. 
For  a  second  the  blade  stuck;  and  in  the  delay  a 
copper-colored  arm  shot  out  and  fastened  on  his 
wrist,  while  the  other  copper-colored  arm  bran- 
dished a  stone  hatchet  over  his  head.  With  his  left 
hand  he  caught  that  arm  and  held  it  off ;  and  they 
swayed,  panting,  in  the  firelight  that  gave  him  his 

29 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

first  glimpse  of  the  foe  all  sailors  yarned  about, — 
the  bristling  black  hair  and  wide-rimmed  beast- 
bright  eyes,  and  the  skin  of  unearthly  hue  showing 
under  the  animal  hides  of  the  covering.  Under  the 
copper-colored  skin,  the  muscles  were  like  copper 
wire.  Strong  as  he  was,  Alrek  could  not  twist 
aside  that  wrist  above  his  head.  He  gave  up  try- 
ing, presently,  and  limited  his  efforts  to  freeing  his 
sword-arm.  Putting  all  his  force  into  the  wrench, 
he  succeeded  at  last  in  loosing  it  and  shooting  forth 
his  weapon — and  that  was  all  that  he  had  to  do! 
At  the  bare  sight  of  it,  darting  glittering  from  its 
sheath  like  lightning  from  a  cloud,  the  Skraelling 
uttered  a  yell  of  terror,  dropped  the  hatchet  from 
his  hand  and  his  hands  from  their  hold,  and  flung 
himself  backward  into  the  darkness.  There  was  a 
crackling  of  brush,  the  spat  of  bare  feet  upon  sand, 
and  then — silence. 

Gradually  the  Sword-Bearer's  amazement  gave 
way  to  amusement.  "  He  thought  it  was  magic, — 
here  is  a  joke  of  the  Fates!"  he  breathed.  "If 
Thorwald  had  but  shown  them  steel,  it  is  likely  that 
he  could  have  put  the  whole  host  to  flight !  Never 
could  I  have  wrested  the  hatchet  from  him.  Now 
30 


FOUND    ON    THE    CAPE 


it  is  likely  that  my  kinswoman  Gudrid  will  open  her 
eyes  when  I  show  her  this !  "  Bending  over  the  em- 
bers, he  examined  the  weapon  with  deep  interest; 
the  edge  was  knife-sharp.  "  It  would  have  cleft 
me  as  if  it  cut  cheese !  "  he  muttered ;  and  was 
laughing  in  somewhat  unsteady  congratulation 
when  the  sound  of  feet  scrambling  up  the  slope 
straightened  him  to  greet  Gard. 

For  a  space  the  Ugly  One  stared  about  him, 
blinking  in  the  firelight;  then  the  eagerness  of  his 
swarthy  face  gave  way  to  bitterest  reproach. 

"  You  scared  them  away  before  I  had  a  chance 
to  see  them?"  he  cried.  "  Slipped  away,  because 
my  back  was  turned,  and  got  all  the  sport  for  your- 
self? Never  would  I  have  believed  it  of  you! 
Never " 

Alrek  threw  up  his  hands  in  honest  compunc- 
tion. "  Gard,  I  beg  of  you  to  forgive  me !  It  is 
the  truth  that  when  I  saw  the  light,  I  forgot  that 
you  were  alive.  And  I  feared  the  Skraellings  would 
get  away  before  I  could  see  them.  I  intended  only 
to  creep  up  and  look,  without — "  He  broke  off 
and  stood  with  his  mouth  open,  staring  at  the  other. 

Involuntarily,  Gard  whirled  to  dart  a  glance 
31 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

over  his  shoulder;  and  finding  nothing,  cried  out, 
sharply ;  "  What  ails  you  ?  Have  you  got  out  of 
your  wits  ?  " 

Alrek  regained  his  self-control  with  a  short 
laugh.  "  I  think  I  have,"  he  answered.  "  Do  you 
know  another  thing  besides  yourself  that  I  forgot? 
I  forgot  Karlsefne's  command  to  keep  the  peace." 


CHAPTER    IV 

WHEREIN      THE      SWORD-BEARER      IS      FURTHER      RE- 
MINDED    THAT   HE     HAS     BROKEN     THE     LAW 

THE  return  to  the  Wind-Raven  was  even  fuller 
of  thought  than  the  departure  from  it  had  been; 
though  once  Gard  broke  out  in  lamentation: 

"  If  you  had  only  allowed  me  to  have  part  in 
the  fun,  7  should  have  remembered." 

Although  his  shoulders  remained  square-set 
against  the  gray  of  the  night,  Alrek's  silence  was 
so  full  of  skepticism  that  the  other  blushed  and 
hastened  to  speak  of  something  else: 

"  Why  are  you  so  bold  as  to  tell  of  this  ?  It 
seems  to  me  sufficient  to  say  only  that  you  found 
the  hatchet  on  the  ground." 

"  The  Weathercock  must  be  warned,"  Alrek 
said  briefly.  "  Do  you  not  see  that  this  Skraelling 
may  bring  back  a  host,  as  happened  to  Thor- 
wald?  " 

Apparently  Gard  saw,  for  he  did  not  speak 
33 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

again.  The  silence  lasted  unbroken  until  they 
glided  under  the  ship's  prow,  and  a  chorus  of  sup- 
pressed greetings  came  down  to  them. 

"  Hail,  explorers !  What  luck  ?  "  "  It  seems 
that  your  stay  was  short —  "  "  Was  Thorwald 
lacking  in  hospitality?"  the  voices  laughed,  while 
the  hands  reached  down  to  pull  them  aboard  and  as- 
sist in  raising  the  boat. 

When  at  last  the  pair  stood  on  deck,  however, 
the  tune  changed.  "  Now  there  are  tidings  in  their 
faces ! "  cried  the  boy  who,  from  the  quality  of  his 
temper,  was  known  as  the  Bull.  "  News !  Let  us 
have  it  out  of  them !  "  Whereupon  the  group  made 
a  fence  across  the  way,  every  picket  in  it  crying, 
"  Give  up  your  news !  " 

Gard  waved  them  off  crossly.  "  I  have  none," 
he  growled. 

Alrek  gazed  back  at  them  as  though  they  really 
were  boards  in  a  fence.  "  Where  is  the  Weather- 
cock?" he  inquired  of  the  Amiable  One.  "Has 
he  drunk  the  wits  out  of  him  yet  ?  " 

"  Such  as  they  are,  I  think  he  has  them  still 
about  him,"  Erlend  answered.  "  But  will  you  not 

tell  us " 

34 


THE    LAW    BROKEN 


The  Sword-Bearer  shook  his  head  as  he  pulled 
away  from  the  other's  ringed  hand.  "  The  jest 
is  not  good  enough  to  bear  two  tellings.  Come 
after  me  if  you  want  to  hear  it."  Whereupon  the 
line  instantly  became  a  column,  marching  at  his 
heels  as  he  walked  aft. 

On  the  after-deck,  the  helmsman  who  was 
known  among  his  followers  as  the  Weathercock,  was 
droning  a  song  over  his  ale  horn.  He  was  a  fat 
bald-headed  man  with  a  heavy  doughlike  face  and 
a  grizzled  beard  that  bristled  like  wiry  beach-grass 
from  his  plucking  at  it  while  he  sang.  His  listeners 
greeted  the  appearance  of  the  lads  with  much  cor- 
diality; but  he  took  the  interruption  very  ungra- 
ciously indeed. 

"  It  may  well  be  that  the  reason  boys  always 
come  at  the  wrong  time  is  because  there  is  no  right 
time  for  such  hindrances,"  he  snapped.  "  Which 
of  you  wants  what  of  me?  " 

The  oncoming  wave  fell  back  a  little,  leaving 
the  Sword-Bearer  stranded  before  the  helmsman. 
He  said,  saluting,  "  I  want  to  tell  you  that  when 
you  go  upon  the  Cape  to-morrow  you  must  go  in 
war  clothes.  I  have  been  ashore  and  seen  a  Skraell- 

35 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

ing;  and  I  think  he  has  gone  to  call  his  people  to 
arms." 

"  What ! "  cried  all  the  men  in  chorus ;  and 
those  on  the  outer  edge  leaned  forward,  palms 
curved  around  their  ears.  Only  the  Weathercock 
sat  squinting  in  a  dull  man's  attempt  at  sharpness. 

"  What  kind  of  jest  is  this?  "  he  sneered  at  last. 

Alrek  drew  the  stone  hatchet  from  his  belt. 
"  One  of  the  proofs  that  it  is  not  a  jest  is  this." 

There  were  more  exclamations,  while  a  dozen 
hands  snatched  at  it ;  but  old  Grimkel  bent  forward 
and  pinned  his  eye  upon  the  Sword-Bearer. 

"  How  did  you  get  it  ?  "  he  demanded.  "  You 
did  not  fail  to  remember " 

The  boy's  lips  curved  into  a  rueful  smile  as  he 
met  the  look.  "  I  remember  now,"  he  said  slowly, 
"  and  I  remembered  up  to  the  time  I  saw  the 
Skraelling.  But  when  I  came  upon  him  sud- 
denly  " 

"  You  attacked  him  ?  "  It  was  the  helmsman 
who  screamed  that,  his  doughlike  face  reddening 
to  the  very  nose-end. 

Alrek  regarded  him  with  critical  brown  eyes. 
"  You  prove  a  good  guesser,"  he  said  politely. 
36 


THE    LAW   BROKEN 


From  all  sides  went  up  exclamations  of  dismay ; 
while  from  the  Weathercock  went  up  smoke  and 
flames  as  though  Hekla  itself  had  broken  loose. 

"  You  —  you  —  you  good-for-nothing-wolf 's- 
whelp-gone-mad !  "  he  sputtered.  "  What  do  you 
mean  by  standing  there  so  quietly  when  your  mad- 
dog  temper  has  brought  discredit  upon  my  leader- 
ship which  would  otherwise  have  got  me  great 
fame  with  the  Lawman  ?  One  thing  after  another, 
worse  and  worse,  will  be  caused  by  this!  The 
Skraellings  may  be  surrounding  us  even  as  we 
speak;  and  we  shall  be  forced  to  share  your  dis- 
obedience or  else  get  killed — or,  it  may  be,  both 
fight  and  get  killed,  since  when  Karlsefne  finds  how 
his  orders  have  been  regarded —  But  the  first  re- 
sult of  this  will  be  that  we  will  not  go  ashore  to- 
morrow nor  any  other  time — Ale!  Faste!  Hjal- 
mar!  Up  with  the  anchor  and  out  with  the 
sail » 

As  cries  of  protest  arose,  he  beat  them  down 
with  his  short  fat  arms.  "  You  shall  not  set  foot 
upon  land,  you  pack  of  ravening  curs!  Not  until 
you  get  to  camp, — and  then  I  hope  you  will  have 
reason  to  wish —  Ah,  to  think  that  when  we  get  to 

37 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

camp  I  must  tell  this  instead  of  the  report  I  had  ex- 
pected to  give !  "  He  struck  his  fists  together  until 
it  seemed  as  if  he  might  forget  the  Sword-Bearer's 
free  birth  and  lay  them  on  him  in  blows.  "  Why 
did  I  not  remember  that  you  had  outlaw  blood  un- 
der your  fair  speaking,  and  keep  you  under  my 
heel!  But  you  shall  pay  for  your  liberty  now. 
You  shall  be  tied  with  walrus  thongs  and  thrown 
into  the  foreroom,  and  kept  there  without  food  or 
drink  until  we  reach  Vinland !  Take  him  hence, — 
do  you  hear  my  words  ?  Lodin !  Grimkel !  " 

He  broke  off  to  tug  at  his  belt,  which  unwonted 
exertion  was  rendering  distressfully  snug;  and  in 
the  interval  the  protests  of  the  young  Greenlanders 
burst  forth  anew,  expressing  unreservedly  what 
they  thought  of  him  for  taking  away  their  chance 
of  going  ashore.  When  he  turned  on  them,  his 
thick  neck  rumbling  volcano-like,  they  even  gave 
back  curse  for  curse ;  until — what  with  their  racket 
and  his  bawling  and  the  running  to  and  fro  of  the 
sailors — the  after-deck  of  the  Wind-Raven  pre- 
sented a  lively  appearance. 

The  only  quiet  person  on  it  was  the  culprit. 
Saluting  with  ironical  ceremony,  he  yielded  to  the 
38 


THE    LAW    BROKEN 


touch  of  Grimkel's  hand  upon  his  shoulder;  and 
they  proceeded  to  the  little  room  under  the  fore- 
deck,  which  served  on  extraordinary  occasions  for 
a  dungeon  and  on  ordinary  ones  as  a  storeroom  for 
bales  of  fur  and  ale-casks  and  kegs  of  salted  fish. 

"  If  I  could  learn  to  feed  my  stomach  through 
my  nose,  I  should  not  starve  however  long  I  stayed 
here,"  Alrek  observed  with  an  expressive  grimace 
as  they  entered. 

The  hand  on  his  shoulder  shook  him  roughly. 
"  You  deserve  to  starve,"  the  old  man  snapped.  "  I 
have  the  heart  to  pound  you !  After  I  had  warned 
you  how  the  Lawman  is  holding  you  in  the  bal- 
ance! "  He  jammed  into  its  bracket  the  torch  he 
carried,  and  sent  a  barrel  out  of  his  way  with  a 
thundering  kick. 

Somehow,  the  heat  of  his  elder's  concern  moved 
the  boy  to  an  affectation  of  unconcern.  Holding 
out  his  wrists  for  the  rope,  he  replied  that  if  Karl- 
sefne  had  been  watching  him  for  two  years,  it  was 
time  he  found  out  something. 

Grimkel  jerked  at  the  thongs  with  a  growl  for 
every  knot.  "  You  will  find  out  something  when 
you  come  before  him!  Have  you  got  it  into  your 
4  39 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

mind  that  you  have  prevented  him  from  fulfilling 
what  lies  nearest  his  heart  ?  Since  the  time  when  he 
was  making  ready  for  his  journey  at  Leif  Er- 
icsson's house  in  Greenland,  he  has  counted  on 
strengthening  the  settlement  by  making  friends  of 
the  Skraellings;  and  planned  to  get  knowledge 
from  their  experience  of  the  country,  and  riches  by 
trading  with  them.  And  he  has  condemned  Thor- 
wald's  short-sightedness  in  attacking  them,  and 
commanded  how  they  should  be  received  with  gifts 
and  fair  words —  Oh,  it  is  impossible  that  the 
Fates  will  allow  a  wise  man  to  be  balked  by  a  boy's 
folly!" 

"  If  it  is  impossible  why  do  you  trouble  your- 
self over  it  ?  "  Alrek  suggested ;  then  went  on  to  re- 
quest that  the  hatchet  be  carefully  preserved  for 
him. 

Grimkel,  bending  over  to  fasten  the  ankle- 
bonds,  straightened  stiffly  in  awful  silence.  But  be- 
fore his  exasperation  could  escape  through  his  lips, 
a  waking  thrill  ran  along  the  Wind-Raven's  spine ; 
a  voice  called  him  to  lend  a  hand  with  the  sail,  and 
he  was  obliged  to  wheel  and  stamp  away. 

With  him  went  the  torch;  so  that  the  dark- 
40 


THE    LAW    BROKEN 


ness  of  the  foreroom  became  a  black  wall,  upon 
which  a  gray  square  like  a  patch  showed  where  the 
low  doorway  opened  into  the  night.  Gradually,  the 
outside  hubbub  died  away  until  the  only  sound  that 
came  in  was  the  creaking  of  ropes  and  the  sail's  dull 
boom. 

Left  to  himself,  the  boy  left  off  feigning ;  and 
turned  and  grappled  with  his  trouble.  Breast  to 
breast  they  struggled,  while  the  gray  square  melted 
shade  by  shade  into  cold  light ;  and  when  the  square 
was  gilded  by  the  morning  sun,  they  were  strug- 
gling still. 

Trying  to  shake  off  his  thoughts,  the  Sword- 
Bearer  flung  his  fettered  body  about  in  a  kind  of 
frenzy.  "  If  I  stay  three  days  like  this,  I  shall  go 
out  of  my  wits !  "  he  cried  to  himself.  "  To  lose 
all  my  chance  with  him  is  bad  enough,  but  to  sit 
here  and  think  about  it — !  I  shall  become  mad  if 
I  cannot  move  about  and  forget  it  for  a  while !  " 


41 


CHAPTER   V 

THROUGH     WHICH     THE     STORM     GIANT     BLUSTERS 

A  STOOPING  black  shape  against  the  sunshine, 
Hjalmar  Thick-Skull  came  through  the  doorway 
and  began  to  paw  over  bales  and  boxes  in  search 
of  extra  oars. 

"  Your  luck  is  great,  young  one,"  he  remarked. 
"  You  would  not  be  sitting  quiet  if  you  were  out- 
side. Perhaps  you  think,  because  you  see  sun 
through  the  door,  that  the  whole  sky  is  like  that ; 
but  you  should  see  the  clouds  ahead  of  us!  The 
only  thing  equally  black  is  the  Weathercock's  face 
since  he  finds  that  he  must  put  into  the  Keel  harbor 
after  all.  And  on  top  of  it  the  wind  has  failed,  and 
he  has  commanded  all  hands  to  the  oars " 

Rising  to  his  fettered  feet,  Alrek  held  out  his 
bound  hands.  "  Here  are  mine !  Take  your  knife 
to  the  knots." 

The  Thick-Skulled  gaped  over  his  shoulder. 
"  Why — why — he  did  not  mean  you." 

"Have  I  not  hands?"  the  Sword-Bearer  de- 
42 


THE   STORM    GIANT   BLUSTERS 

manded.     "  With  a  troll's  strength  in  them  this 
morning!    Certainly  he  meant  me." 

He  strove  to  speak  carelessly  while  his  fingers 
were  twitching,  but  some  breathlessness  must  have 
betrayed  him.  Scratching  his  tow  mane  and  star- 
ing as  he  scratched,  Hjalmar  began  slowly  to  grin. 
After  a  little,  Alrek  laughed  also  and  spoke  in 
frank  appeal: 

"  Do  me  this  good  turn,  shipmate,  that  I  may 
stretch  myself  some  while.  If  he  did  not  mean  me, 
yet  might  you  easily  have  mistaken  him.  You  can 
tell  him  so  when  he  makes  a  fuss, — it  is  not  likely 
that  he  will  notice  me  until  the  storm  is  over.  You 
know  it  is  a  saying  that '  the  wolf  allays  the  strife 
of  the  swine.'  ' 

After  a  while,  the  Thick-Skulled  stooped,  grin- 
ning, and  laid  his  knife  against  the  thongs.  "  Be- 
hold what  a  good  thing  it  is  to  have  a  reputation 
for  dulness !  "  he  said.  "  But  see  to  it  that  you 
bear  me  out  by  giving  good  service  at  the  oar." 

The  Sword-Bearer  stretched  his  arms  with  a 
sigh  of  relief.  "  Only  let  me  get  at  it ! "  he 
breathed,  and  plunged  into  the  air  like  a  fish  into 
the  water. 

43 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

True  enough !  Though  sunshine  lay  bright  on 
the  Wind-Raven's  decks  and  blue  sky  was  above 
her,  before  her — like  the  entrance  to  another  world 
— sagged  a  canopy  of  slate-colored  clouds.  Swollen 
with  rain,  they  hung  low  over  the  shore-line  of  for- 
est and  dune  and  darkened  all  the  distant  water 
save  where,  here  and  there,  streaks  of  white  gleamed 
like  monsters'  bared  teeth.  Full  of  ominous  warn- 
ing was  the  calm  that  had  fallen  on  land  and  sea, 
robbing  the  sail  so  that  it  hung  like  a  live  thing 
gasping  for  breath. 

"  If  he  did  not  put  into  the  harbor  he  would  be 
likely  to  share  the  fate  of  Thorwald  Ericsson,  and 
be  cast  ashore  in  the  same  place,  and  likewise  with  a 
broken  keel,"  Alrek  commented  after  a  look  at  the 
sky;  then  laid  hold  of  his  oar  and  bent  himself 
almost  to  the  bottom  of  the  boat  in  the  relief  of 
spending  his  energy. 

Perhaps  his  appreciation  of  a  small  favor 
touched  the  Fates  in  their  woman  hearts,  for  pres- 
ently they  extended  it.  When  the  Wind-Raven's 
brood  had  brought  her  safely  behind  the  wooded 
bar  that  lay  across  the  harbor  mouth  like  a  screen 
in  front  of  a  door,  the  helmsman  gave  out  word 

44 


THE    STORM    GIANT    BLUSTERS 

that  since  they  were  plainly  storm-bound  for  the 
night,  at  least,  they  would  not  deny  themselves  the 
comfort  of  a  camp  on  land,  but  would  proceed  im- 
mediately ashore.  Ashore!  the  Sword-Bearer 
could  scarcely  believe  his  good  fortune,  until  Brand 
dared  to  lean  over  and  poke  him  in  congratula- 
tion. 

"  I  knew  the  Old  One  would  take  care  not  to 
have  his  fat  jolted,"  he  whispered;  "and  he  can 
not  leave  you  behind.  Your  luck  will  last  until  we 
come  back  again." 

"  Until  we  come  back  again !  "  Alrek  repeated 
as  though  it  were  a  toast,  and  threw  himself  reso- 
lutely into  the  work  of  the  hour. 

There  was  field  for  action.  They  had  barely 
reached  the  shore  and  found  refuge  in  a  hollow  be- 
low a  wooded  knoll  when  the  tempest  burst  upon 
them,  rushing  through  the  forest  with  a  swelling 
roar  that  rose  above  the  thunder  of  the  breakers. 
After  that  every  minute  of  the  day  was  a  battle — 
a  fight  over  the  tent  canvas  which  the  wind  threat- 
ened to  pick  up  and  carry  off  like  a  kerchief  with 
all  of  them  hanging  to  it  in  a  fringe;  a  skirmish 
for  fuel  through  forests  into  which  sand  from  the 

45 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

dunes  beyond  was  rushing  like  yellow  swarms  with 
biting  mouths;  a  contest  over  the  fire,  blown  out 
or  struck  out  with  lances  of  glittering  rain;  a 
struggle  to  hear  or  be  heard  through  the  thunder- 
ing downpour,  to  see  the  very  food  in  their  hands 
through  the  suddenly  fallen  darkness — a  battle 
between  giants  and  pygmies! 

Exhausted  yet  exhilarated,  as  after  a  day  at 
the  sword-game,  the  band  fell  over  from  eating  to 
sleeping.  When  the  lightning  tore  apart  the  dark- 
ness and  disclosed  the  deserted  ship  reeling  in  ter- 
ror upon  the  twisting  black  water,  they  only 
laughed  and  burrowed  deeper,  falling  asleep  to 
the  thunder  of  breakers  booming  along  the  shore 
as  to  a  lullaby  from  a  mother's  lips. 

The  ocean  was  still  booming  when  they  awoke, 
late  the  next  day,  and  the  wind  was  still  blustering 
in  the  tree  tops.  The  leader,  with  his  mind  reaching 
out  toward  Vinland  fires  and  Vinland  fare,  cursed 
peevishly ;  but  the  juniors  of  his  following  greeted 
the  delay  with  open  rejoicing. 

"  Here  is  our  chance  to  see  the  land ! "  Brand 
cried,  shaking  out  his  ruddy  locks  like  fiery  ban- 
ners. "  Let  us  take  it  before  anything  gets  it 
46 


THE    STORM    GIANT    BLUSTERS 

away  from  us.  I  will  wager  a  ring  that  I  will  beat 
any  one  to  the  top  of  this  steep  !  " 

So  promptly  did  they  respond  that  although 
he  won  his  wager,  the  next  boy  was  only  a  step  be- 
hind ;  and  none  of  the  twenty  was  more  than  a  pace 
in  the  rear.  Once  on  the  crest,  they  streamed, 
whooping,  into  the  grove  of  oak  and  pine  and 
sassafras  which  they  had  seen  from  the  water, 
lying  along  the  bay  shore  like  a  ragged  rich- 
hued  mat. 

Raggedness  showed  more  plainly  than  rich- 
ness, upon  a  nearer  approach,  though  nothing 
could  take  away  the  beauty  of  coloring  where 
pines  spread  their  ever-living  green  over  the  windy 
crests  and  the  oak  trees  on  the  slopes  had  turned 
yellow  and  russet  and  red  without  losing  a  leaf. 
But  it  was  no  such  forest  as  Vinland  boasted ;  com- 
pared with  Vinland  trees  the  growth  was  stunted 
and  there  was  not  enough  underbrush  to  give  it 
even  the  wildness  of  a  thicket, — only  tangles  of 
rose  briar  and  berry  bramble  where  the  ridges  sank 
into  hollows  cupping  reed-fringed  ponds.  Per- 
haps the  best  that  could  be  said  for  it  was  that  its 
endless  undulations  kept  curiosity  awake.  Passing 

47 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

over  them  was  like  breasting  billows ;  one  gained  a 
height  only  to  behold  another  deep. 

After  a  while,  it  stirred  Alrek  to  restlessness. 
When  it  was  suggested  that  they  should  stop  at  one 
of  the  ponds  for  a  duck  hunt,  he  objected. 

"  Who  knows  what  the  next  ridge  may  be  hi- 
ding? "  he  said  obstinately.  "  Let  us  find  out  first 
what  lies  before  us." 

"  What  but  the  ocean  ?  "  Erlend  asked  in  sur- 
prise. "  That  can  not  be  far  away  now ;  the  sand 
wastes  between  the  trees  are  getting  much  wider." 

But  Alrek  was  already  moving  on,  dealing 
blows  of  his  hatchet  at  the  trees  on  either  side  of 
him.  "  Do  as  you  like,"  he  answered  over  his  shoul- 
der. "  I  shall  not  stop  until  I  come  to  the  end." 

Erlend  sent  him  a  glance  of  surprise;  but  the 
others  had  caught  the  fever  of  his  mood  so  that 
they  dashed  after  him  in  a  cheering  charge. 

Their  run  did  not  keep  up  long,  however,  for 
the  walking  was  momently  becoming  harder.  In 
the  next  hollow  the  pond  had  been  smothered  be- 
neath a  sand  blanket,  and  the  bushes  were  stran- 
gling in  sand.  In  the  next  there  were  no  bushes  at 
all,  only  mats  and  tufts  of  wiry  grass.  On  the 
48 


THE   STORM   GIANT   BLUSTERS 

slopes  the  trees  became  fewer,  the  sand  piled  be- 
tween them  like  drifted  snow;  in  one  place  it  had 
buried  a  clump  so  that  only  their  tops  showed, 
bush-like,  above  the  creamy  surface. 

"  There  you  can  sec  what  kind  of  place  this 
would  be  to  set  up  a  landmark,"  Njal  of  Greenland 
observed,  pointing  at  them.  "  In  twenty  years 
more  it  is  likely  the  whole  forest  will  be  covered 
and  the  man  who  comes  then  will  say  that  we  lied 
because  we  told  of  trees  being  here.  I  doubt  if  we 
would  be  able  to  find  much  of  the  keel  that  Thor- 
wald  set  up " 

"  Then  do  not  let  us  spend  time  looking  for  it," 
Alrek  finished.  And  so  completely  had  his  mood 
taken  possession  of  them,  that  they  consented  with- 
out argument;  plodding  on  doggedly  over  the 
dunes  that  had  become  like  yellow  snow-banks,  bare 
of  a  single  tree,  rounding  in  absolute  baldness 
against  the  gray  of  the  sky. 

Gradually,  feverish  expectancy  grew  in  them 
all.  It  was  as  though  the  vast  shifting  mass  were 
a  living  monster,  whose  depredations  they  had  seen, 
whose  lair  they  were  now  approaching.  They 
stopped  in  a  hushed  group  when  the  last  dune  re- 

49 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

vealed  the  beach  sweeping  down  to  the  water.  The 
scarred  and  furrowed  ocean  was  another  monster, 
still  growling  and  showing  his  tusks  at  the  wind 
giant. 

Northward,  the  ocean  was  all  they  saw.  West- 
ward, they  saw  it  over  a  yellow  waste  as  the  dunes 
sloped  down  to  the  Cape  point.  Southward,  lay 
the  land  over  which  they  had  come;  beyond  it,  the 
bay  in  which  their  ship  rode  at  anchor.  Eastward, 
unbroken  drifts,  unspotted  beach — their  silence 
ended  in  a  cry : 

"  Yonder !  Yonder  is  something  washed 
ashore !  " 

All  saw  it,  so  plainly  did  it  show  against  the 
sand, — something  dark  and  motionless  which  the 
waves  had  flung  up  there  out  of  their  way.  So 
large  did  it  loom  in  the  strange  light  that,  as  they 
went  plunging  and  floundering  toward  it,  some  de- 
clared it  to  be  a  whale ;  and  others,  an  overturned 
boat. 

But  the  light  on  the  Wonderstrand  is  a  won- 
drous light.  When  they  had  raced  over  some  hun- 
dred yards  of  beach,  the  dark  object — instead  of 
growing  larger — dwindled  suddenly  from  whale 
50 


Neither  sound  nor  motion  was  on  his  blue  lips. 


THE    STORM    GIANT    BLUSTERS 

size  and  boat  size  to  the  size  of  a  human  body. 
Involuntarily,  they  slackened  their  pace  and  a  whis- 
per went  around :  "  It  is  one  of  the  Skraellings, 
overtaken  by  the  storm !  " 

Only  Alrek  shook  his  head  and  pressed  forward. 
"  That  is  no  animal  hide  wrapping  him,"  he  said. 

A  dozen  yards  more  brought  him  to  the  side  of 
the  stark  form ;  he  bent  over  it — and  remained  bent 
as  though  petrified  with  astonishment.  When  the 
others  had  reached  him  and  looked,  their  voices 
went  from  them  in  a  cry  of  amazement: 

"  The  Huntsman !  " 

And  the  Huntsman's  gigantic  figure  it  was,  sea- 
drenched  and  wave-battered,  kelp  snarled  about  his 
feet,  starfish  tangled  in  his  hair.  As  he  had  lain 
upon  the  rock  that  winter  day,  so  he  lay  here  upon 
the  sand, —  flat  on  his  back  with  his  hands  clasped 
over  his  breast;  though  now  his  eyes  were  closed, 
and  neither  sound  nor  motion  was  on  his  blue  lips. 

Doubting  their  senses,  the  explorers  stared  at 
him  and  then  up  and  down  the  shore.  Never  was 
scene  more  yawningly  empty ;  between  the  sweep  of 
sand  and  the  stretch  of  water  he  lay  as  though 
fallen  from  the  sky. 

51 


CHAPTER  VI 

ABOUT  THE  STEANGE  FIND  ON  KEEL  CAPE 

"  I  WOULD  give  much  if  he  had  not  died  until  he 
had  told  us  how  he  came  hither,"  Gard  remarked, 
presently. 

"  And  what  he  was  employing  himself  about  in 
the  north  of  Vinland  when  he  set  out  to  explore  the 
country  south  of  it !  "  Brand  cried ;  while  the  Glib 
One  added: 

"  Yes,  and  how  it  went  with  Hallad  and  the 
others  he  had  with  him ! " 

Then  they  became  aware  that  Erlend's  hand- 
some brown  face — three  shades  browner  than  his 
hair — was  turned  toward  them  in  reproach.  "  It 
may  be  that  Alrek  will  get  the  belief  that  a  Green- 
lander's  loyalty  to  his  countrymen  is  somewhat 
shallow,"  he  suggested. 

In  those  days,  disloyalty  to  a  comrade  was  held 
a  contemptible  thing.  Two  of  the  three  reddened ; 
and  Brand  bent  his  tongue  to  apology. 

52 


A    FIND    ON    KEEL    CAPE 


"  He  knows  that  we  care  as  much  as  any  one. 
Eric  of  Brattahlid  had  the  Huntsman  for  his  stew- 
ard, because  they  found  pleasure  in  talking  evil 
together  about  Christianity;  but  that  was  all  the 
friend  I  ever  heard  of  his  having.  It  is  understood 
that  we  will  do  him  the  favor  to  bury  him,  how- 
ever." 

Gard  the  Practical  rubbed  his  ear.  "  That  will 
not  be  easy  unless  we  carry  him  far  inland,"  he  said. 
"  If  I  am  not  much  mistaken,  this  sand  will  move 
about  like  snow, — and  I  have  heard  that  if  dead 
men  come  uncovered  and  sleep  cold,  they  are 
wont  to  get  up  and  walk  around  to  warm 
themselves." 

A  dozen  of  them  crossed  themselves  involunta- 
rily ;  and  the  Strong  One  squared  his  magnificent 
shoulders. 

"  Quickly  will  I  proclaim  my  choice  to  carry 
him  to  the  bay  !  " 

"  That  would  best  be  left  unsaid  until  we  see 
how  heavy  he  is,"  Alrek  advised.  "  Raise  his  other 
shoulder,  Domar,  and  let  us  see  how — One  thing  is 
that  he  is  not  yet  stiff.  Wait!  What  is  this  on 
his  neck?"  With  his  finger,  he  followed  a  cord 

53 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

running  from  the  grizzled  beard  across  the  motion- 
less breast  to  lose  itself  in  the  shelter  of  the  rigidly 
clasped  hands.  "  It  is  a  deerskin  bag." 

"  I  know  he  did  not  have  it  on  when  he  went 
south !  "  Harald  Grettirsson  cried,  excitedly. 

And  a  chorus  added ;  "  Here  is  something  of 
importance !  " — "  Something  of  value !  "  "  To 
think  of  it  then —  "  "  Yes,  to  grasp  it  when  he 
was  drowning !  " 

Sitting  back  on  his  heels,  Alrek  gazed  down  at 
the  figure  curiously.  "  He  has  grasped  the  bag  too 
close  to  move,  but  it  would  be  possible  to  pry  a  fin- 
ger into  the  top  and  see  what  is  inside, — if  you 
would  allow  it?  He  is  your  countryman."  He 
glanced  inquiringly  at  them  as  they  stooped  around 
him,  their  hands  grasping  their  knees. 

The  Greenlanders  looked  down  at  him ;  then 
around  at  one  another ;  then  Brand  spoke  under  his 
breath ;  "  If  you  dare " 

"Dare?"  Alrek's  mouth  curved  disdainfully. 
Picking  out  the  cord-ends  from  between  the  chill 
palms,  he  undid  the  knot  that  fastened  the  mouth 
of  the  bag  and  inserted  a  thumb  and  forefinger. 
"  A  chain,"  he  said  as  they  closed  upon  something ; 


A   FIND   ON   KEEL   CAPE 


then,   as  they   began   to   draw  it   out,  "  What    a 
chain !  " 

All  echoed  him :  "  What  a  chain !  " 

For  it  was  of  shining  gold,  set  here  and  there 
with  a  rough-cut  gem;  while  its  girth  was  that  of 
his  largest  finger,  and  it  unfolded  itself  coil  after 
coil  to  the  length  of  his  arm.  What  a  keepsake  to 
bring  out  of  a  waste  peopled  only  by  wild  men! 
Devouring  it  with  hungry  eyes,  they  drew  closer; 
and  Rane  Thin-Nose  put  out  a  hand  to  feel  of  it, 
at  the  same  time  sending  an  apologetic  glance  tow- 
ard the  rigid  face. 

As  he  did  so,  the  drawn  eyelids  rose  slowly  and 
silently  as  curtains ;  and  the  Huntsman's  small  evil 
eyes  looked  back  at  him.  Rane's  hand  was  with- 
drawn as  though  it  had  encountered  fire;  and  the 
circle  fell  back,  screaming.  Even  the  Sword-Bear- 
er  was  startled  enough  to  drop  the  chain,  as  the 
eyes  rolled  in  his  direction  and  remained  turned  on 
him  in  a  baleful  glare. 

Through  the  blue  lips  came  a  voice,  so  faint 
that  it  seemed  to  be  one  of  the  smothered  voices 
which  cry  through  the  roar  of  the  surf;  "You 
would  rob  me  ?  " 

5  65 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

At  that  the  circle  rallied  indignantly,  shouting, 
"  We  would  not!  "  "  It  was  our  intention —  " 
"  You  need  not  reproach  us  for — "  "  We 
thought " 

"  Put  it  back." 

Alrek  hesitated,  his  face  coloring  with  resent- 
ment. Then  he  asked  himself  of  what  use  it  was 
to  argue  with  a  piece  of  driftwood,  and  gave  up 
justification  with  a  shrug.  While  the  rest  spent 
their  breath  wrathfully,  he  complied  in  silence. 
When  the  last  knot  was  tied — and  not  before — the 
eyes  left  him  to  roll  around  the  circle. 

"  Swear —  "  the  voice  said  faintly. 

Before  the  glare  they  shrank  in  spite  of  them- 
selves, fluttering  like  birds  around  a  snake;  until 
Erlend  said,  with  quiet  haughtiness: 

"  There  is  no  need  for  us  to  swear  that  we  will 
not  rob  you." 

The  voice  was  so  faint  that  they  barely  made 
out  the  words ;  "  Swear — to  keep  it  secret.  On 
the  edge  of  your  blades !  " 

"  I  suppose  he  has  the  right  to  ask  it,"  Erlend 
gave  judgment  after  a  while.  "  It  was  his  secret 
and  we  thrust  ourselves  in.  It  seems  to  me  that  it 
56 


A    FIND    ON    KEEL   CAPE 


is  his  right?  "  He  looked  at  the  Sword-Bearer  with 
questioning  eyebrows. 

No  one  ever  disputed  the  decisions  of  the 
Amiable  One  in  matters  of  honor.  Alrek  answered 
by  unsheathing  his  sword,  with  another  shrug  of 
his  shoulders. 

Drawing  each  a  knife  from  his  belt,  they 
grasped  them  by  the  blades  so  that  the  sharp  edges 
cut  red  grooves  in  their  bare  palms.  Holding  the 
knives  aloft  thus,  they  spoke  the  oath  together ;  the 
Huntsman's  eyes  telling  them  off,  one  by  one. 
When  he  had  come  to  the  last — little  Olaf  the  Fair 
twisting  his  face  to  keep  back  tears  of  pain — his 
eyes  stopped  and  settled  slowly  into  their  unwink- 
ing stare;  but  that  they  were  less  dull  than  fish- 
eyes,  his  stark  figure  would  have  differed  little  from 
the  myriad  fish  bodies  strewed  upon  the  sand. 

Though  they  rattled  their  weapons  blustering- 
ly  in  putting  them  up,  a  kind  of  panic  chill  crept 
over  the  band.  The  stare  was  so  awful  in  its  dumb 
evilness ;  and  the  scene  was  so  weirdly  desolate, — the 
stretch  of  bleak  sky,  the  sweep  of  naked  shore,  and 
the  breakers'  unending  boom  out  of  which  stifled 
voices  seemed  trying  vainly  to  call.  The  lad  who 

57 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

was  called  the  Hare — alike  for  fleetness  and  for 
timidity — voiced  the  feeling  in  a  quavering  out- 
burst : 

"  Let  us  leave  him !  I  do  not  believe  he  is  alive 
at  all.  I  believe  a  troll  hides  in  him  and  uses  his 
mouth  to  speak  with.  I  know  evil  will  come  of  this. 
Let  us  leave  him."  He  plucked  nervously  at  Al- 
rek's  coat.  "  Come  on !  " 

Alrek  was  strung  high  enough  to  be  irritated 
by  the  clutch.  "Keep  off!"  he  ordered,  jerking 
himself  free.  "  It  is  no  lie  about  you  that  you  are 
cowardly,  if  you  would  desert  a  shipmate !  "  Then 
regaining  possession  of  his  cloak,  he  regained  pos- 
session of  his  temper,  and  spoke  quietly ;  "  If  we 
get  some  big  branches  and  make  a  litter  with  our 
mantles,  it  will  not  be  difficult  to  get  him  to  the 
bay.  It  seemed  to  me  that  you  were  all  eager  in 
having  him  alive  to  tell  you  news  ?  " 

If  it  had  not  been  for  that  hope,  it  is  doubtful 
if  the  twenty  would  have  toiled  to  bring  such  a  bur- 
den over  the  sand-hills;  and  it  is  certain  that  the 
sailors  had  this  end  in  view  as  they  rubbed  the 
Huntsman's  limbs  and  poured  ale  down  his  throat. 
Had  they  been  polishing  a  knife  or  oiling  a  lock, 
58 


A    FIND    ON    KEEL    CAPE 


they  could  scarcely  have  been  more  business-like  or 
less  tender. 

"  As  soon  as  he  gets  strength  to  talk  he  should 
be  able  to  tell  tidings  worth  hearing,"  they  said  to 
one  another  when  at  last  they  left  him  rolled  in 
skins  and  went  about  their  preparations  for  return- 
ing to  the  ship,  a  rift  having  come  in  the  gray  to- 
ward the  west. 

The  main  difference  between  their  attitude  and 
that  of  their  j  uniors  was  that  they  felt  merely  dis- 
like for  the  Huntsman,  while  for  the  one-and-twen- 
ty  he  had  the  fascination  of  fear.  To  them,  his 
eyes  were  twin  demons  keeping  guard  from  their 
cave  doors  over  the  treasure  bag  below.  It  is  safe 
to  say  that  they  never  lost  him  out  of  their  minds 
through  all  the  bustle  of  going  on  board  and  re- 
settling themselves,  as  they  awaited  a  surer  sign  of 
the  Storm  King's  reformation. 

With  the  sunset,  the  rift  in  the  gray  widened. 
Thrym,  the  giant  who  herds  the  clouds,  drove  the 
hulking  masses  northward,  lagging  from  their  own 
weight.  In  the  clearing  west,  the  sun  dropped 
golden  behind  a  jagged  bar;  and  while  the  rosy 
glory  of  it  was  still  in  the  southern  sky,  the  moon 

59 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

looked  out  of  the  east.  To  a  rousing  cheer,  the 
Wind-Raven  shook  out  her  storm-beaten  plumage 
and  skimmed  away  over  the  silvering  waves.  The 
change  was  so  grateful  that  Alrek  was  able  to 
shake  off  depression  one  time  more;  while  the 
loungers  on  the  benches  were  noisy  with  satis- 
faction. 

"  Never  was  there  a  better  time  to  experience 
the  Wonderstrands !  "  they  jubilated  afresh,  as  the 
curving  stretch  of  shining  dunes  pushed  itself  into 
their  vision. 

Passing  that  curve  was  little  less  than  an  experi- 
ence ;  for  the  bend  of  the  shore  made  it  ever  appear 
as  though  a  cape  lay  just  ahead,  yet  the  cape  ever 
receded  as  they  approached,  a  flying  point  that 
could  never  be  caught. 

"  Certainly  it  makes  the  world  seem  a  place  of 
strange  wonders !  "  Faste  the  Fat  marveled,  when 
they  had  sat  a  long  time  watching  it  in  silent  fas- 
cination. "  It  makes  one  curious  about  everything. 
If  the  Huntsman  would  only  speak  now  and  tell  us 
what  he  has  seen,  this  would  be  a  good  time  to  amuse 
ourselves  with  a  tale." 

"  How  do  you  know  that  he  has  seen  any- 
60 


A    FIND    ON    KEEL   CAPE 


thing?  "  sneered  a  harsh  voice — harsh  for  all  its 
faintness — from  the  pile  of  skins  upon  the  fore- 
castle. 

They  wheeled  so  eagerly  that  the  ship  rocked 
under  them.  "  Are  you  ready  to  tell  the  tidings 
you  have  seen?"  "Will  you  tell  us  about — ?" 
"  Tell  about  the  south  country,  Huntsman." 
"  Did  you  see  any  Skraellings  ?  "  "  No,  tell  us  first 
how  you  came  here —  "  Yes,  your  adventure —  " 
"Yes,  yes!"  "  We  beg  of  you—  "  "Goon!  Go 
on!" 

They  were  all  speaking  at  once  now,  boys  and 
men,  and  their  greed  proved  their  downfall.  For, 
the  clamor  reaching  the  helmsman  on  the  after- 
deck,  he  descended  with  unusual  agility  and  wad- 
dled toward  them. 

"  If  you  are  going  to  talk  to  any  one,  you  talk 
to  me,  your  chief,"  he  commanded ;  "  and  tell  me 
what  you  have  done  with  the  boat  and  the  men  I 
lent  you." 

The  Huntsman's  manners  gained  little  at  sight 
of  his  superior.  "  I  do  not  see  that  7  have  done 
anything  with  them,"  he  answered  sullenly,  "  be- 
cause the  boat  went  to  pieces  on  a  sand-bar  and 

61 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

Rann  drew  Svipdag  and  Black  Thord  down  to  her. 
It  is  seen  that  I  saved  you  the  best  man  of  the 
three." 

"  Four  men  were  in  the  boat  when  you  started 
out  on  that  foolish  trip,"  the  helmsman  caught 
him  up.  "  Biorn's  foster-son  is  worth  speaking 
about ;  what  have  you  done  with  him  ?  " 

The  blood  settled  in  the  Huntsman's  sunken 
cheeks  as  water  in  a  hollow.  "  Is  the  boy  of  so 
much  importance  that  I  must  carve  his  rune  on  a 
separate  stick  ?  "  he  snarled.  "  What  else  could  he 
be  than  drowned?  Is  it  likely  that  Valkyrias  came 
down  for  him  ?  I  think  you  are  a  fool.  If  Freydis, 
Eric's  daughter,  had  not  married  you  for  your 
wealth  and  sent  you  out  here  after  more,  you  would 
never  have  had  manhood  to  set  foot  on  a  ship. 
You  my  chief!  You  can  think  what  you  like;  I 
will  not  answer  you  another  word."  He  flung 
himself  over  on  his  face  in  one  of  the  black  sulks  no 
man  had  ever  yet  sounded;  his  officer's  threats 
might  as  well  have  been  addressed  to  the  mast. 

At  last  the  fat  helmsman  was  forced  to  pause  to 
take  in  breath,  standing  puffing  and  glaring  and 
tugging  at  his  belt.  And  it  was  this  unpropitious 


A    FIND    ON    KEEL    CAPE 


moment  which  his  roving  eyes  took  to  remind  him  of 
Alrek's  existence.  The  Sword-Bearer  felt  the  gaze 
when  it  fell,  and  shut  one  eye  in  an  expressive  wink 
at  Brand ;  nor  were  his  forebodings  without  founda- 
tion. 

The  helmsman  let  his  recovered  breath  go  from 
him  in  a  snort.  "  You !  What  are  you  doing  here? 
Did  I  not  order  that  you  should  be  shut  up  for  the 
rest  of  the  voyage  ?  " 

Alrek  unclosed  his  eye  to  gaze  out  of  the  pair 
in  respectful  surprise.  "  I?  "  he  inquired.  "  Was 
it  not  your  intention  to  free  me  when  you  ordered 
all  hands  to  the  oars?  " 

Before  the  Weathercock  found  adequate  words 
he  had  stamped  three  times  in  uncouth  capers  of 
rage;  when  he  did  find  them,  however,  they  came 
with  such  force  that  they  burst  the  buckle  off  his 
belt. 

"  Go  back !  "  he  wound  up  in  a  bellow.  "  Go 
back,  and  do  not  dare  come  forth  again  until  I  haul 
you  before  Karlsefne.  If  I  were  your  chief,  I 
would  hang  you  !  " 

For  once,  exasperation  got  the  better  of  Alrek's 
soldier  training.  He  looked  the  fat  figure  up  and 

63 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

down  as  he  arose.  "  You  would  not  need  to  take  the 
trouble,"  he  retorted.  "  If  you  were  my  chief,  I 
would  hang  myself." 

He  heard  applauding  laughter  from  his  mates 
as  he  walked  away,  simultaneously  with  a  roar  from 
the  helmsman,  and  after  that  a  confusion  of  sounds ; 
but  his  mind  was  too  full  of  bitterness  to  leave  any 
room  for  curiosity.  It  roused  him  with  a  start 
when  the  solitude  in  which  Fat  Faste  was  reinstall- 
ing him  was  disturbed  by  a  second  consignment  of 
captives, — Brand  with  torn  clothes  and  flashing 
eyes;  at  his  heels,  little  Olaf  striving  to  quench  a 
bleeding  nose  as  he  panted  with  unquenched  parti- 
zanship ;  back  of  him  Gard  the  Ugly,  made  uglier 
by  a  swollen  lip ;  and  behind  the  three,  Strong  Do- 
mar,  a  purple  lump  on  his  forehead  and  breathless 
delight  in  his  voice  as  he  shouted  the  explanation 
over  the  others'  heads : 

"  I  knocked  him  down,  Alrek,  as  sure  as  I 
stand  here!  He  tried  to  cuff  Brand  for  laughing 
at  you,  and  I  laid  him  flat  before  Lodin  could  lay 
hold  of  me, — and  he  will  have  to  come  before  Karl- 
sef ne  with  a  black  eye !  Think  of  it !  " 

Apparently  Alrek  did  think  of  it,  for  he  stared 
64 


A    FIND    ON    KEEL   CAPE 


for  the  space  of  a  minute  before  he  spoke.  "  You 
struck  your  chief !  "  he  repeated  at  last. 

The  Strong  One  chortled  with  relish.  "  And 
blacked  his  eye !  It  will  be  shut  tight,  I  know  it 
will, — and  he  thinks  so  much  about  making  a  fine 
appearance  before  the  Lawman !  And  maybe  his 
nose  will  swell  also,  and —  He  broke  off  abruptly 
as  the  meaning  of  Alrek's  expression  came  home  to 
him ;  and  his  freckled  face  reddened.  "  Now  I  for- 
got that  you  are  soldier-bred.  I  suppose  that  in 
the  Earl's  camp  they  would  not  call  it  a  jest  to 
knock  down  a  chief?  " 

The  Sword-Bearer  leaned  back  on  his  bale  of 
fur  with  a  long-drawn  yawn.  "  They  would  not  be 
likely  to  call  it  anything,"  he  said  drily,  "  for  it 
could  not  happen  there  at  all." 

As  he  said  nothing  more  in  congratulation,  it 
was  rather  a  sulky  group  that  the  torches  left  to 
darkness  when  the  last  walrus-hide  knot  was  tied. 


65 


CHAPTER    VII 

CONCERNING    THORFINN    KARLSEFNE, 
THE   LAWMAN 

AND  that  night  was  as  long  as  two  nights ;  and 
the  sunrise  into  which  it  melted  lasted  until  noon; 
and  the  day  which  finally  grew  out  of  that  sun- 
rise had  no  end  whatever!  Apparently,  the 
Weathercock  had  managed  to  tie  walrus  thongs 
around  Time's  ankles  also. 

Glimpses  of  banks,  caught  through  the  door- 
way, showed  when  they  turned  from  the  highroad 
of  the  ocean  up  the  river-lane  which  led  into  the 
Vinland  bay ;  but  the  banks  kept  on  unraveling  like 
witch's  weaving  that  has  no  end.  They  had  turned 
their  attention  from  watching  the  landscape  to  rob- 
bing a  fish  keg,  when  the  drone  of  voices  on  the 
deck  above  broke  suddenly  into  shouts : 

"  A  boat !  Coming  from  behind  that  island !  " 
"Who—"  "—thralls,  the  two  in  white—" 
66 


THORFINN    THE    LAWMAN 

"  But  the  man  in  blue?  "     "  Karlscfnc  is  wont  to 
wear  blue —  "  By  the  Hammer,  I  believe  it 

is  the  Lawman  himself !  " 

If  cheers  rose  from  the  forecastle,  silence  fell 
on  the  foreroom.  Eager  as  they  were  to  reach 
camp,  to  run  upon  this  portion  of  it  in  midstream 
was  little  less  than  startling.  The  face  of  every 
Greenlander  confirmed  Domar's  fervent  gasp: 

"  Now  I  am  thankful  that  Karlsefne  is  not  my 
chief!" 

Into  Alrek's  quiet  came  a  kind  of  constraint. 
"  Other  men  wear  blue  mantles,"  he  suggested. 
"  Hold  your  tongues  and  listen." 

Crouching  on  rope-coils  and  piles  of  fur,  they 
held  their  breath  as  well  as  their  tongues  while  they 
tried  to  separate  the  tumult  into  meanings ;  the 
scuffle  of  feet  on  the  deck  above  was  like  a  blur  over 
all  other  sounds.  But  finally  the  feet  rushed  down 
the  steps;  there  was  a  lull  in  which  could  be  heard 
the  sound  of  oars  backing  water ;  then,  through  the 
quiet  a  new  voice,  deep  and  kindly : 

"  Greeting  and  welcome,  friends !  Tell  me  be- 
fore anything  else  if  you  are  all  here,  sound  and 
whole?" 

67 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

The  prisoners'  mouths  shaped  one  word  as  they 
gazed  into  one  another's  faces :  "  Karlsefne !  " 

How  thinly  and  sputteringly  the  Weathercock's 
voice  fell  on  their  ears  after  that !  "  All  here,  Law- 
man !  And  all  sound, — saving  this  eye  of  mine 
which  has  met  with  a  mishap  of  which  I  will  tell  you 
later." 

Very  likely  he  rambled  on  with  his  wonted  long 
windedness,  but  the  five  eavesdropping  in  the  fore- 
room  heard  no  more.  The  throng  that  had  surged 
forward  receded  noisily;  and  through  the  rift  the 
prisoners  had  a  glimpse  of  the  gunwale  and  a 
sinewy  blue-clad  form  rising  beside  the  fat  helms- 
man like  a  tree  beside  a  bush,  a  towering  might- 
full  figure  with  a  face  of  rugged  beauty  framed 
in  locks  of  iron  gray.  Even  after  the  rift  had 
closed  up  again  they  crouched  motionless,  staring 
at  the  shifting  backs  and  straining  their  ears  for 
tones  of  that  deep  voice,  until — jangling  through 
it  like  clattering  pottery — came  the  helmsman's 
lament : 

"  But  ask  not  what  success  we  have  had,  Law- 
man, for  I  will  tell  you  without  delay  that  the  plan 
you  had  most  at  heart  has  been  marred  past  mend- 

68 


THORFINN    THE    LAWMAN 

ing !  By  no  fault  of  mine,  but  through  the  blood- 
thirstiness  of  your  brother's  son ;  who  has  not  only 
thrown  your  commands  aside,  but  has  kindled  out- 
lawry in  the  heart  of  every  boy  on  board,  who  would 
otherwise  be  obedient  to  my 

Brand  got  on  his  bound  feet — no  one  knows 
how — and  on  them  got  to  the  door. 

"  That  is  not  true,  though  you  or  others  say 
it ! "  he  shouted ;  and  when  his  leader  stopped  out 
of  sheer  amazement  and  every  one  turned,  gaping, 
he  followed  his  voice  through  the  door.  "  We  en- 
dure him  altogether  against  our  will.  To  obey  him 
is  a  disgrace  to  all  with  manhood  in  them.  Domar 
made  his  eye  black " 

"  Yes,  that  is  true,"  bellowed  Domar.  Followed 
by  Gard  and  little  Olaf,  he  in  his  turn  worked  his 
way  to  the  door,  where  a  sudden  lurch  of  the  ship 
caught  them  and  rolled  them  in  a  struggling  heap 
almost  to  Karlsefne's  feet;  when  the  crew  began  to 
laugh  and  the  Weathercock  began  to  accuse  and  the 
rebels  began  to  deny. 

Looking  after  them  Alrek's  lips  curled  in  soldier 
scorn ;  that  gave  way  to  amusement  when  the  clamor 
ended  abruptly  at  a  single  word  from  the  deep  voice, 

69 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

and  he  had  a  glimpse  of  Brand's  fiery  locks  droop- 
ing like  captured  flags.  But  after  a  moment,  he 
turned  and  stretching  his  bound  arms  across  a  cask, 
hid  his  face  upon  them. 

"  Whatever  they  do,  they  can  not  serve  him  so 
badly  as  I  have  done.  Certainly  I  can  find  no  fault 
with  his  act  if  he  hangs  me  up  like  a  sheep-killing 
dog,  for  little  better  has  my  service  been,"  he  mur- 
mured ;  and  lay  there  with  his  face  hidden  until  the 
jar  of  Hjalmar's  heavy  foot  brought  him  suddenly 
upright. 

"  Karlsefne  sends  for  you,"  the  Thick-Skulled 
announced  in  his  wonted  roar;  then,  coming  close  to 
cut  the  thongs,  he  spoke  in  hoarse  whispers; 
"  Hear  great  wonders !  Your  luck  has  not  quite 
shown  its  heels,  after  all.  It  has  happened  that 
the  Lawman  also  has  seen  the  Skraellings  !  The  day 
after  you  met  the  one  on  the  Cape,  a  host  of  them 
appeared  before  the  Vinland  booths, — to  see,  it  is 
likely,  if  the  others  had  your  mind  toward  them. 
But  Karlsefne  made  so  plain  his  good  intentions 
that  they  went  away  after  doing  nothing  worse 
than  stare.  And  yesterday  they  came  again,  with 
bundles  of  fur  which  they  traded  with  much  friend- 

70 


THORFINN    THE    LAWMAN 

liness.  It  is  his  belief  that  they  also  have  young 
fire-heads  among  them  so  that  they  understand  how 
little  value  is  to  be  put  upon — 

Stretching  out  his  freed  arms,  the  Sword-Bear- 
er gripped  Hjalmar's  hand  to  the  point  of  crush- 
ing. "  You  make  my  heart  merry  in  my  breast !  " 
he  breathed. 

"  Yes,  certainly ;  I  am  in  high  spirits  also," 
Hjalmar  assented,  returning  the  pressure.  "  It  is 
an  exceedingly  useful  thing  for  you.  But  see  to  it 
that  you  bear  yourself  boldly  as  a  hawk ;  and  keep 
it  all  the  time  before  his  mind  that  no  real  harm  has 
been  done." 

Alrek  began  suddenly  to  laugh.  "  It  may  be 
that  I  would  better  tell  him  that  he  owes  me  thanks 
for  sending  the  Skraellings  to  him?  " 

"  That  might  have  no  small  power,"  the  Thick- 
Skulled  responded  gravely;  and  Alrek  laughed 
again,  as  he  caught  at  the  huge  shoulder  to  steady 
himself  in  rising  upon  his  stiff  legs. 

If  the  shoulder  had  been  Grimkel's,  the  mouth 
belonging  to  it  would  have  advised  differently. 
During  all  the  time  that  the  helmsman  was  bewail- 
ing the  evils  to  come  out  of  such  rashness,  and  Karl- 
6  71 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

sefne  was  courteously  explaining  how  luck  had 
warded  off  such  evils,  the  old  seaman's  weather  eye 
had  scanned  the  sky  of  his  chief's  face  with  deepen- 
ing gravity.  Now  his  speculations  broke  out  into 
words. 

"  If  the  boy  tries  to  make  light  of  his  disobe- 
dience because  it  ended  luckily,  the  Lawman  will 
spare  him  neither  in  words  nor  deeds,"  he  mut- 
tered to  himself;  and  the  impulse  came  to  him  to 
try  to  push  through  the  crowd  pressing  him  mast- 
ward  and  impart  this  prognostication  to  the 
Sword-Bearer.  But  even  as  he  moved  to  carry  out 
his  kindly  intention,  the  boy's  erect  red-cloaked 
figure  appeared  in  the  doorway  of  the  foreroom 
and  it  was  too  late  to  do  anything. 

Though  his  dress  of  blue  was  merchant  garb 
and  the  staff  in  his  hand  was  a  farmer's  symbol, 
the  face  of  Karlsefne  was  the  face  of  a  law-giver. 
Above  the  beard  of  iron  gray  his  mouth  showed 
firm-lipped  as  a  mouth  of  stone,  and  the  gaze  of 
the  steel-bright  eyes  under  the  bushy  brows  was 
such  as  none  with  guilt  in  their  hearts  might  sus- 
tain. Meeting  it,  the  Sword-Bearer's  eyes  fell  and 
the  blood  was  drawn  to  his  cheeks,  and  he  came 

72 


THORFINN    THE    LAWMAN 

forward    and    bent    his    knee    before    the    Law- 
man. 

Hard  as  measured  steel  were  Karlsefne's  meas- 
ured words :  "  For  a  long  time  I  have  been  watch- 
ing to  know  whether  you  deserved  favor  or  stark- 
ness,  and  held  my  hand  from  you  lest  it  deal  un- 
justly. I  thought,  long  ago,  that  I  smelled  hot 
blood  which  would  one  day  break  out  and  sweep 
away  all  bounds.  Now  that  day  has  come,  and  the 
worst  things  I  have  thought  of  you  are  proved  the 
true  things." 

As  he  bowed  his  head  under  the  rebuke,  Alrek's 
teeth  cut  a  blood-line  on  his  lip ;  but  he  attempted 
no  defense.  For  the  space  of  a  second  it  seemed  to 
Grimkel  that  the  Lawman's  face  showed  surprise. 

Yet  his  voice  was  even  sterner  when  he  spoke 
again.  "  They  are  no  less  true  things  because  good 
fortune  has  enabled  me  to  ward  off  the  damage 
which  would  otherwise  have  been  caused  by  your 
deed.  If  you  are  at  all  versed  in  camp  ways,  you 
know  that  this  happening  does  not  make  you  any 
less  liable  to  punishment." 

Rising  from  his  knee,  the  young  Sword-Bearer 
faced  him  without  fear.  "  My  fate  is  for  you  to 

73 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

decide  over,  kinsman,  according  to  your  pleasure," 
he  said  with  soldier  submissiveness. 

Then  there  was  no  question  whatever  about 
Karlsefne's  surprise.  After  a  moment's  silence,  he 
spoke  slowly ;  "  I  think  it  best  to  hear  first  from 
your  own  mouth  about  this  happening." 

"  I  have  no  excuse  why  you  should  withhold 
your  anger  from  me,  yet  I  would  not  have  you  be- 
lieve that  I  wished  the  thing  to  happen,"  Alrek 
answered.  "  When  I  set  out  for  the  light,  my  one 
thought  was  to  get  honor  with  you  by  finding  out 
the  news  you  wanted ;  and  I  think  I  should  have  re- 
membered your  order  if  the  Skraelling  had  been 
where  I  first  looked  for  him.  But  after  I  had 
given  him  up  I  saw  him  suddenly,  hiding  in  the 
shadow ;  and  something  in  me  cried  out  that  he  was 
aiming  and — and  I  have  not  been  wont  to  jump 
backward  when  I  saw  a  foe.  Yet  I  ask  you  to  be- 
lieve that  I  wished  least  of  anything  to  hinder  your 
plans." 

A  while  the  steel-keen  eyes  probed  him;  but  he 
did  not  flinch.  "  That  is  not  in  every  respect  as 
the  helmsman  relates  the  story,"  Karlsefne  re- 
marked at  last. 

74 


THORFINN    THE    LAWMAN 

"  That  is  very  likely,"  Alrek  replied,  "  for  the 
helmsman  knows  nothing  whatever  about  the  mat- 
ter." Whereupon  the  helmsman  let  his  stored-up 
breath  go  from  him  in  a  snort. 

A  dozen  seamen  endeavored  suddenly  to  hide 
laughter  under  fits  of  coughing;  but  the  Lawman 
said  gravely :  "  Nevertheless,  I  now  see  that  there  is 
truth  in  the  other  things  he  told  me  about  your  be- 
havior toward  him;"  then  turned  away  and  stood 
a  long  time  pondering,  his  hands  gripping  his  sil- 
ver-shod staff,  his  half-closed  eyes  resting  on  the 
group  of  gaping  boys.  And  gazing  at  them,  he 
seemed  to  forget  the  S word-Bearer  in  a  new  prob- 
lem. 

"  Here  are  more  rebels,"  he  said  to  the  helms- 
man, with  a  sweep  of  his  staff.  "  Little  order  will 
there  be  in  camp  if  they  are  turned  loose  on  it  in  no 
better  state  of  mind.  How  is  it  your  intention  to 
deal  with  them  ?  " 

The  Weathercock  shifted  his  weight  peevishly ; 
he  was  tired  of  standing;  and  his  mind  was  upset 
within  him;  and  he  wanted  besides  to  get  back  to 
his  ale  horn.  "  Since  they  are  free-born,  it  seems 
that  I  can  not  even  give  them  the  flogging  they  de- 

75 


THE    VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

serve,"  he  snapped,  "  but  if  they  were  thralls,  I 
would  drown  them." 

"  It  may  be  then  that  you  would  be  willing 
that  I  should  offer  them  to  come  under  my  rule?  " 
Karlsefne  suggested;  and  went  on  to  say  more  in 
an  undertone. 

Astonishment  opened  the  helmsman's  eyes  at 
first ;  then,  slowly,  he  wrinkled  into  a  fat  smile.  At 
last  he  reached  out  and  grasped  Karlsefne's  hand. 

"  If  you  will  rid  me  of  the  twenty  plagues, 
who  are  turning  me  thin,  I  will  feel  as  though  you 
had  given  me  twenty  marks  of  gold,"  he  declared. 
Whereupon  the  Lawman  turned  to  the  group  of 
blank  faces. 

"  Now  this  is  my  offer  to  you,"  he  said,  "  that 
you  part  from  the  rest  of  the  Greenlanders  and 
form  yourselves  into  a  band  and  build  your  own 
booth  and  choose  one  of  your  own  number  to  rule 
over  you." 

The  faces  lighted  in  ecstasy, — then  gloomed 
in  unbelief.  Brand  spoke  for  all  when  he  inquired 
timidly : 

"  Is  this  a  punishment  ?  " 

"  It  is  not  a  reward,"  Karlsefne  answered ;  and 
76 


THORFINN    THE    LAWMAN 

for  a  moment  his  gaze  sharpened  so  that  the  Red 
One  winced  under  it.  "  If  I  did  not  believe  that  it 
is  because  you  know  no  better  that  you  act  thus, 
there  would  be  hard  things  in  store  for  you.  I  take 
this  way  to  show  you  why  lawfulness  is  needful. 
Yet  is  there  no  trick  to  it ;  all  I  have  promised  shall 
be  fulfilled, — and  more.  You  shall  have  your  own 
table  if  you  can  furnish  it ;  your  own  boat  if  you 
can  build  it ;  in  every  way  like  men " 

They  thought  his  pause  the  end,  and  burst  into 
jubilant  chorus;  "It  will  not  take  us  long  to 
know  what  to  answer  to  this !  " 

But  he  raised  his  hand  for  silence.  "  Answer 
nothing  until  you  have  heard  the  whole.  If  you 
form  yourselves  upon  the  manner  of  men,  so  must 
you  also  bear  men's  burdens.  You  must  furnish 
your  share  of  hunters  and  fishers  and  of  workers  in 
the  fields ;  and  you  must  do  your  share  of  guarding 
against  outside  foes  or  lawlessness  within.  Even 
as  Thorvard,  here,  and  Snorri  and  Biorn,  answer 
to  me  for  the  behavior  of  their  following,  so  must 
your  chief  answer  for  you " 

"  Yes !     Yes !  "  they  cried  eagerly. 

But  he  lifted  his  hand  again;  his  measured 
77 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

tones  became  like  tolling  bells.  "  Think  well !  I 
speak  not  in  jest.  If  you  accept,  I  take  you  in 
grim  earnest.  You  may  not  have  men's  liberty 
without  men's  care,  and  I  shall  hold  you  like  men 
to  your  word  though  the  matter  cause  death  itself. 
Think  well!" 

They  did  pause;  his  manner  was  impressive 
enough  to  insure  that.  But  in  a  moment,  Brand 
flung  back  his  red  locks  daringly. 

"  Much  should  we  lack  in  manhood  if  we  would 
refuse  a  fair  offer !  Take  our  word !  " 

Every  one  of  the  twenty  echoed  him  wildly. 
"  Take  our  word !  " 

"  It  is  taken,"  Karlsefne  said  gravely ;  then 
bent  his  gaze  on  the  Red  One.  "  It  appears  likely 
that  you  will  be  the  chosen  head,  since  you  seem  al- 
ways to  speak  for  your  comrades  ?  " 

Brand  flushed  with  delight.  But  before  he 
could  answer,  Domar  spoke  bluntly : 

"  I  do  not  see  in  what  Brand  is  above  the  rest 
of  us  Greenlanders.  I  raise  my  voice  for  Alrek  In- 
golfsson." 

"  Alrek    Ingolfsson,    by    all    means ! "  Erland 
seconded;  and  Brand  joined  him  generously. 
78 


THORFINN    THE    LAWMAN 

In  another  moment,  all  were  shouting,  "Alrek ! 
Alrek ! " 

Plainly,  this  was  something  the  Lawman  had 
not  expected.  "Alrek?"  he  repeated  in  surprise. 
"  Yet  I  do  not  know  that  it  would  not  be  a  punish- 
ment to  answer  for  such  a  band !  "  Turning,  he 
looked  again  where  the  Sword-Bearer  stood  with 
folded  arms,  awaiting  his  sentence. 

Perhaps  with  mouth  firm-set  and  troubled  eyes 
he  looked  more  than  ever  like  his  father.  Old 
Grimkel's  watchful  gaze  saw  the  Lawman's  hard- 
ness break  up  like  Greenland  ice  before  a  warm 
land  wind.  Taking  a  slow  step  forward,  he  laid 
his  hands  upon  the  square  young  shoulders  and 
looked  long  into  the  brown  young  face. 

"  Since  you  left  in  the  spring,"  he  said,  "  a  son 
was  born  to  me,  but  I  swear  I  do  not  love  him  more 
than  I  love  you  when  that  look  is  on  you,  bringing 
back  my  brother  and  my  boyhood  and  the  time  be- 
fore our  ways  parted."  His  voice  softened  to  very 
grave  gentleness.  "  Since  you  did  not  mean  offense 
toward  me,  I  will  take  none ;  and  you  shall  accept 
this  chiefship  and  use  it  to  prove  what  nature  is  in 
you.  All  I  have  of  love  and  honor  lies  ready  for 

79 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

your  gaining, — it  will  not  gladden  you  more  than 
me  if  you  are  strong  enough  to  take  them.  Will 
you  accept  the  test?  " 

He  held  out  his  hand,  and  the  Sword-Bcarer 
grasped  it  in  both  of  his  and  looked  him  full  in  the 
face,  his  eyes  in  a  golden  glow.  "  I  accept  the 
test, — and  I  give  you  thanks  for  it  from  the  bot- 
tom of  my  heart,"  he  said. 


END    OF  PAET    FIRST 


PART   SECOND 

ALREK'S     CHAMPIONS 


CHAPTER    VIII 

AT    THE    HALL,    OF    THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

"  WHETHER  you  think  so  or  not,  I  know  that 
Gudrid  would  not  keep  milk  in  a  fish-pail,"  the 
Bull's  voice  rose  above  the  racket. 

There  was  not  a  little  racket  to  surmount,  for 
it  was  rising  time  at  the  new  band's  new  booth. 
In  the  high-seat  that  had  been  built  for  him  mid- 
way the  length  of  the  hall,  the  red-cloaked  chief 
occupied  the  interval  before  breakfast  with  rune- 
carving;  but  that  was  the  only  employment  which 
was  being  carried  on  in  silence.  Whistling  boys 
were  lacing  their  high  boots  along  the  benches 
right  and  left  of  the  high-seat ;  grumbling  boys 
were  just  turning  out  of  the  bunks  behind  those 
benches;  jeering  boys  were  throwing  bedclothes 
at  the  sluggards,  and  disputing  boys  were  clatter- 
ing bowls  and  trenchers  on  the  tables  which  stood 
on  either  side  the  fire.  One  of  these  table-boys  was 
the  short  and  chesty  Bull,  sniffing  hostilely  at  the 

83 


THE    VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

milk  he  was  pouring ;  and  the  head  of  the  division 
was  Brand,  the  long  and  loose- jointed. 

Over  a  platter  of  cold  venison,  he  frowned  on 
his  scullions.  "  Gudrid  has  nothing  to  do  with  this 
house,"  he  snubbed  the  faultfinder;  then,  in  per- 
emptory aside,  "  Olaf ,  keep  that  door  shut !  Do 
you  think  it  is  warm  outside?  " 

"  Do  you  think  that  any  one  who  eats  your 
cooking  needs  to  be  told  that  Gudrid  did  not  do 
it?  "  retorted  the  Bull,  refusing  to  be  snubbed. 

A  sigh  came  out  of  Erlend's  handsome  mouth 
as  he  looked  up  from  hunting  a  lost  button  among 
the  pine  branches  of  the  floor.  "  Ah,  Gudrid ! 
After  that  last  meal  she  invited  me  to  take  in  their 
booth,  eating  here  has  been  like  living  on  sea- 
weed !  " 

Brand's  frown  took  on  an  edge  of  scorn. 
"  Fussers !  Go  and  live  in  Gudrid's  house !  It  may 
be  that  she  would  allow  you  to  crawl  into  the  cradle 
with  the  baby.  Yesterday  the  grumbling  was  be- 
cause I  put  my  head  out  of  the  door  to  look  at  a 
dog-fight  and  the  bread  got  a  little  burned.  If  I 
were  as  womanish  as  the  rest  of  you,  I  would  braid 
my  hair  and  put  on  skirts !  " 

84 


THE    HALL    OF    THE    CHAMPIONS 

Still  bending  over  his  rune-carving,  the  young 
chief  spoke  with  a  drawl :  "  Here  is  something 
worth  a  hearing !  Is  it  in  truth  your  opinion  that 
there  is  the  most  manfulness  in  you?  " 

Surprise  took  the  head-cook  a  little  aback ;  then 
defiance  took  him  a  long  way  forward,  flourish- 
ing his  red  mane.  "  Yes,  I  think  so.  You  also 
found  fault  with  the  bread,  for  all  your  Viking 
training.  I  think  I  am  the  most  hardy  man 
here." 

When  Alrek's  knife  had  cut  another  rune  upon 
his  stick,  he  straightened  deliberately.  "  Yester- 
day," he  explained,  "  Karlsefne  gave  the  chiefs 
the  advice  to  pick  out  each  week  five  men  who 
should  have  it  for  their  sole  service  to  keep  the 
camp  in  fire-wood " 

A  prolonged  groan  interrupted  him ;  of  all  the 
burdens  of  housekeeping,  fuel-getting  weighed  the 
most  heavily. 

" and  he  bade  me  send  the  hardiest  man 

in  our  booth.  I  intended  Domar  to  go,  but 
now  I  see  that  Brand  Erlingsson  is  the  man  to 
do  it." 

"  Hail  to  the  chief ! "  yelled  Strong  Domar. 
85 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

And  Brand's  flame  of  defiance  sank  in  ashes  of 
sulkiness;  and  from  the  others  came  shouts  of 
laughter. 

"  He  will  wish  he  was  back  at  kitchen  work !  " 
"  Tree-chopping  is  the  least  interesting —  "  "  And 
the  weather  is  such  that  wood  lasts  the  shortest 
time — "  "  Still  Karlsef ne  is  lacking  pay- 
ment—  "  "  Never  will  we  get  to  cutting  timber 
for  the  ship !  " 

The  Hare  made  a  pettish  flourish  with  the 
knife  he  was  using  to  trim  away  the  rags  from  his 
garments.  "  Who  wants  to  prepare  for  anything 
so  far  in  the  future?  Why  will  you,  Olaf,  open 
that  door?  What  I  should  be  glad  of  is  a  chance 
to  exercise  myself  for  the  spring  games.  Since  we 
began  this  way  of  living,  I  have  not  had  one  race 
worth  talking  about." 

"  I  should  be  thankful  if  we  could  get  a 
chance  to  go  north  where  the  big  game  is,"  Erlend 
said  with  a  disapproving  glance  at  the  empty 
walls.  "  All  the  booty  we  have  to  show  is  the 
Skraelling  hatchet,  and  Alrek  has  the  habit  of 
carrying  that  in  his  belt.  Many  hunting  journeys 
will  be  required  to  make  this  booth  equal  to  the 

86 


THE    HALL    OF    THE    CHAMPIONS 

others  in  outfittings.     Let  your  eyes  run  over  it 
and  then  think  of  Karlsef  ne's !  " 

Thinking,  they  were  silent  for  a  little,  gazing 
around  at  the  great  room  which  even  in  the  fire- 
glow  showed  so  baldly  white  with  newness.  Karl- 
sefne's  walls  were  decorated  with  bears'  heads  and 
eagles'  claws  and  antler-racks  of  shining  weapons ; 
and  Karlsefne's  benches  were  covered  with  rich 
furs,  and  his  high-seat  had  velvet  cushions  stuffed 
with  eider-down. 

"  Alrek,  when  is  it  your  intention  to  take  the 
time  to  get  furnishings  ?  "  Erlend  besought. 

The  chief  shook  his  brown  head  steadily.  "  Not 
until  we  get  out  of  the  debt  which  we  got  into  to 
build  this  booth,"  he  answered,  and  closed  the 
opening  discussion  by  putting  aside  his  rune-stick 
and  rising.  "  Now  it  seems  to  me  that  you  are 
all  looking  too  far  into  the  future.  I  should  be 
content  if  I  could  get  something  to  eat.  Who  has 
gone  after  the  fish?  And  what  is  the  reason  that 
he  is  not  back  again  ?  " 

As   head-cook,   Brand   answered   him,   though 
sulkily :    "  Gard  has  gone  after  the  fish,  and  it  is 
high  time  that  he  was  back  again." 
7  87 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

"  That  is  what  I  have  been  trying  to  do, 
look  for  him,"  little  Olaf  the  Fair  spoke  up 
for  the  first  time,  in  aggrieved  tones.  And 
secure  at  last  from  interference,  he  flung  the 
door  open  to  the  nipping  January  wind.  "  No, 
I  see  nothing  of  him — but  I  do  hear  the  snow 
crunch ! " 

"  It  is  certainly  time,"  Brand  blustered. 

Nevertheless  he  bent  his  lank  length  over  the 
fire  with  recovered  good-humor;  and  greater  alac- 
rity came  into  the  movements  of  those  who  were 
not  yet  dressed,  while  those  who  were,  turned 
toward  the  door,  gibes  at  each  tongue's  end. 

The  nature  of  their  greeting  changed,  how- 
ever, when  Gard  the  Ugly  had  stamped  into  the 
room  and  they  saw  the  size  of  the  catch  swinging 
at  his  side.  Waking,  their  sleeping  appetites 
cried  out  in  alarm : 

"Only  three!"  "Go  into  the  hands  of  the 
Troll —  "  "  — gone  long  enough  to  get  thirty !  " 
"  What  in  the  Fiend's  name  has  come  to  the  fish- 
ing?" 

Tossing  his  fish  to  the  clamoring  cooks,  Gard 
was  a  long  time  pulling  off  his  fur-lined  gloves 
88 


THE    HALL    OF    THE    CHAMPIONS 

before  he  answered :  "  Nothing  has  come  to  the 
fishing." 

"What  has  come  to  you  then?"  Brand  de- 
manded. 

After  a  while  Gard  said  gruffly :  "  I  forgot  to 
take  any  more." 

"  Forgot!  "  echoed  the  chorus ;  and  Erlend 
laid  his  plump  hands  on  the  Ugly  One's  shoulders 
and  shook  him  good-naturedly. 

"  Are  you  asleep  ?  "  he  inquired. 

Gard  pushed  off  his  brown  cloak  and  with  it 
his  questioner.  "  Since  I  can  feel  your  grasp,  I  am 
not  asleep.  I  think  I  have  seen  Hallad's  ghost." 

"  What ! "  cried  the  chorus ;  and  Domar,  mis- 
taking it  for  a  joke,  burst  into  his  uproarious 
laugh.  He  stopped  abruptly  when  he  found  that 
he  was  alone,  and  Gard  spoke  without  further 
interruption : 

"  It  happened  that  the  first  set  of  lines  I 
stopped  at  had  been  robbed,  so  I  was  obliged  to 
go  across  the  river,  which  is  what  makes  me  rather 
late.  Over  there  I  had  pulled  up  three  fish  when  I 
heard  a  noise  on  the  bank  and  looked  around. 
Some  evergreen  trees  hang  down  their  branches 

89 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

there,  and  they  are  white  with  snow;  he  had  on  a 
white  cloak  that  mixed  him  with  them,  at  first.  But 
suddenly  I  saw  him  looking  out  at  me,  as  near  as 
that  bowl.  His  eyes  were  very  wide  open,  and  his 
face  was  white  as  milk.  It  may  be  that  he  would 
have  spoken  to  me,  but  I  did  not  wait  to  see." 

"  And  therein  you  showed  sense,"  Domar 
breathed  in  sympathy.  But  again  he  was  on  the 
unpopular  side,  for  Ketil  began  to  hoot : 

"  If  you  had  waited,  it  is  most  likely  you  would 
have  found  out  that  you  ar.e  a  simpleton.  Why 
should  Hallad  be  dressed  in  white  like  a  slave? 
He  wore  green  when  he  went  on  his  death- journey. 
Is  it  likely  that  Ran  keeps  new  cloaks  for  drowned 
people?  " 

"  Certainly,  I  think  you  are  asleep  after  all !  " 
Erlend  laughed ;  which  was  the  signal  for  a  flight 
of  chaff  until  Brand  at  his  fish-fork  endangered 
the  peace  by  scoffing: 

"  I  think  you  are  lying." 

To  have  said  that  to  some  of  the  band  would 

have  been  to  bring  on  a  fight  to  the  death,  and 

many   caught   breath   apprehensively   before  they 

remembered  that  this  was  one  of  the  points  about 

90 


THE    HALL    OF    THE    CHAMPIONS 

which  Gard's  thrall-blood  gave  him  feelings  differ- 
ent from  theirs.     He  answered  without  resentment : 

"  I  am  not  apt  to  lie  when  nothing  is  to  be 
gained  by  it.  I  call  Thor  as  witness  that  I  have 
spoken  the  truth !  "  His  oath  he  directed  toward 
the  chief,  who  had  returned  to  his  high-seat  and 
from  there  listened  intently  to  what  passed. 

But  in  the  very  act  of  nodding,  Alrek  Sword- 
Bearer  broke  off  to  ponder;  and  in  the  midst  of 
pondering,  he  began  to  grin.  "  If  you  want  to 
know  my  belief,"  he  said,  "  it  is  that  you  saw  the 
Weathercock's  thrall,  Tunni." 

Instantly  the  chorus  seconded  him.  "  That  is 
certainly  the  truth  of  the  matter !  "  "  Their  hair 
is  of  the  same  color —  "  "  — the  branches  hid 
its  shortness — :  "  and  explains  the  slaves' 
cloak " 

"  And  explains  why  his  look  was  fear-full," 
Alrek  added,  "  if,  as  I  think,  it  was  he  who  robbed 
the  lines  to  save  himself  the  trouble  of  going  far- 
ther. He  would  think  his  hide  in  danger  of  a 
flogging " 

"  Which  it  will  get !  "  roared  Gard ;  whereupon 
the  chorus  redoubled  its  delighted  jeering. 

91 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

This  one  time,  however,  the  Ugly  One's  patience 
had  a  limit.  Gradually  his  swarthy  face  turned 
mottled  red;  slowly  a  gleam  came  into  the  dull 
eyes  above  the  high  cheek-bones.  Suddenly  his 
voice  rumbled  through  theirs :  "  If  any  of  you 
tell  this  so  that  outsiders  make  derision,  you  will 
feel  the  edge  of  my  knife." 

They  knew  then  that  they  had  gone  as  far  as 
was  safe.  When  each  one  of  them  had  spoken 
one  gibe  more  to  show  that  he  dared  to,  there  was 
a  lull,  of  which  Erlend  the  Amiable  took  advan- 
tage to  make  a  tactful  suggestion. 

"  I  shall  think  those  fish  are  ghosts  if  I  do  not 
get  some  of  them  between  my  teeth  before  long," 
he  observed.  And  lo!  ghosts  and  threats  were,  of 
a  sudden,  things  of  the  past. 

"  Get  to  your  places,"  commanded  the  head- 
cook,  sweeping  them  aside  that  he  might  place  be- 
fore his  chief  the  first  portion  of  the  crisp  and 
rosy  dish,  savory  with  garlic  and  sweet  with  its 
own  freshness. 

There  was  an  eager  scrambling  of  feet,  a 
joyful  clattering  of  brass-hilted  knives,  a  flurry 
of  half -spoken  requests;  and  after  that  all 


THE    HALL    OF    THE    CHAMPIONS 

noise  gave  way  to  a  pleasant  munching  sound,  en- 
forced now  and  then  by  a  contented  sigh  or  a  long- 
drawn  "  Ah — h !  "  of  satisfaction. 

A  mumble  of  applause  greeted  the  Bull  when, 
having  licked  the  last  morsel  from  his  fingers  and 
pushed  back  his  bowl,  he  looked  around  to  say, 
stretching :  "  I  should  like  to  see  the  man  who 
could  make  me  go  back  to  the  old  way  of  living !  " 


CHAPTER    IX 

ABOUT    THE    HUNTSMAN    AND    THE    BOY    WHO    WAS 
DROWNED 

To  keep  such  a  band  supplied  with  food  was 
an  occupation  in  itself. 

"  Certainly  I  begin  to  believe  there  is  truth 
in  the  things  women  say  about  a  boy's  stomach 
being  like  the  bottomless  horn  which  Thor 
tried  to  drink  dry!"  Brand  jested.  With  his 
week  of  fuel-duty  far  behind  him  and  a  day's 
hunting  immediately  before  him,  it  was  a  light 
heart  that  beat  under  his  deerskin  tunic  as  he  fol- 
lowed his  chief  and  the  Ugly  One  out  of  the  booth 
door. 

On  the  threshold  the  hunters  paused  to  call 
back  in  mock  admonition :  "  See  to  it  this  time 
that  the  meat  is  hung  where  the  dogs  can  not  get 
it — "  "  Watch  Njal,  if  you  do  not  want  the 
cheese  cut  with  the  garlic  knife —  "  Put  a  bone 
in  the  Bull's  mouth!  If  the  Skraellings  should 
94 


THE    HUNTSMAN    AND    THE    BOY 

come  while  he  is  bellowing  like  that,  they  would 
get  more  scared  than  they  were  at  Karlsefne's 
bull." 

Then  Brand  shut  the  door  upon  the  counter- 
chaff,  and  the  three  began  to  burrow  for  their 
skees  in  the  pile  beside  the  house. 

Trees — such  trees  as  Greenland  never  dreamed 
of — rose  snow-laden  behind  the  booth,  and  before 
it  a  sweep  of  snow-buried  meadow  sloped  away  to 
beaches  of  white  sand ;  for  the  little  settlement  was 
built  across  a  neck  of  land  that  reached  down 
between  a  river  and  a  great  lake-like  bay.  But  the 
lads  went  neither  forward  nor  back  when  at  last 
they  were  shod  for  the  trip,  but  turned  to  their 
left  and  moved  across  the  camp  toward  the  river 
bank. 

It  was  so  early  in  the  day  that  no  wind  had 
yet  arisen  to  stir  the  fleecy  snow-blanket  which 
the  night  had  spread,  and  to  look  up  a  sunbeam 
was  to  look  up  a  track  of  swirling  star-dust.  From 
the  provision  shed  next  their  booth  the  first  camp 
dog  to  leave  night  quarters  had  only  just  emerged, 
yawning,  and  dragging  his  hind  legs  after  him. 
Passing  the  great  log-built  sleeping  houses  with 

95 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

gray  banners  flying  from  every  smoke  hole,  they 
caught  a  rattle  of  dishes  and  a  hum  of  jovial 
voices  which  told  pleasantly  of  the  breakfast  hour. 
Farther  on,  they  overtook  the  thralls  carrying  the 
pails  of  milk  to  the  dairy,  and  had — for  a  wink 
of  time — a  glimpse  of  Gudrid  herself.  Looking 
out  to  hurry  the  milkers  she  stood  an  instant  in  the 
dairy  door,  tall  and  straight  and  deep-bosomed, 
carrying  her  baby  on  her  hip  as  though  he  were 
a  doll.  For  all  the  white  matron's  cap  upon  her 
sunny  locks,  her  face  showed  young  and  flower- 
fresh  as  she  turned  to  smile  at  them.  When  they 
had  lost  sight  of  her,  Brand  spoke  reflectively : 

"  Women  are  as  helpless  in  hardships  as  a 
rowan  tree  in  the  open ;  but  if  they  must  be  in  the 
world,  let  them  be  like  that." 

"  It  is  a  good  thing  to  be  in  a  country  where 
there  are  but  seven  women,"  Gard  assented. 

What  Alrek  would  have  said  no  one  knows; 
for  they  reached  just  then  a  corner  of  the  last 
booth,  and  rounding  it,  encountered  Karlsefne  re- 
turning from  an  early  search  for  a  favorite  hound 
which  he  now  carried  in  his  arms,  badly  torn  by 
fighting. 

96 


THE    HUNTSMAN    AND    THE    BOY 

As  he  was  coming  out  of  the  snow-mantled 
grove,  so  he  might  have  been  coming  out  of  the 
finest  trading  booth  in  Norway,  so  splendid  were 
his  garments  of  blue,  so  rich  the  silvery  furs  that 
bordered  them.  On  the  iron  of  his  hair  and  his 
beard  and  his  bushy  brows,  the  morning  light 
was  sparkling  like  rime  frost ;  and  a  glint  of  kindly 
humor  lighted  his  deep-set  eyes  as  they  fell  upon 
the  approaching  three. 

"  I  salute  the  Chief  of  the  Vinland  Champions 
and  his  men !  "  he  greeted  them.  "  We  old  bones 
need  to  look  to  ourselves  when  young  blood  is  on 
the  trail  so  early." 

Drawing  up  his  soldierly  form  in  salute,  the 
Sword-Bearer  replied  that  young  blood  had  need 
to  stir  early  when  it  had  young  appetites  to  pro- 
vide for. 

"  That  is  true,"  the  Lawman  assented ;  then 
added  politely :  "  Yours  is  certainly  a  hard-work- 
ing household,  chief.  I  hope  your  debt  to  me  does 
not  lie  heavy  on  your  shoulders  ?  " 

Involuntarily  the  Champions  of  Vinland  ex- 
changed wistful  glances,  and  their  chief  paused  to 
consider  his  answer. 

97 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

"  Why,  the  truth  of  the  case  is  this,"  he  said 
at  last.  "  It  is  only  a  little  time  that  is  left  over 
after  we  have  got  the  food  and  fuel  which  are 
needed  to  keep  us  going;  and  since  we  have  to 
spend  that  time  in  working  out  our  debt  to  you, 
there  is  left  no  chance  whatever  to  employ  our- 
selves with  accomplishments  or  skin-hunting.  That 
some  have  found  this  hard  can  not  be  denied,  yet 
it  should  not  be  thought  either  that  our  knees  are 
in  any  way  weakening  under  us." 

"Ah?"  said  Karlsefne,  and  stood  a  while 
stroking  the  head  of  the  hound  that  had  just 
strength  enough  to  lick  his  hand.  Presently  he 
spoke  with  much  graciousness :  "  It  is  an  old 
saying  that  '  necessities  should  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration.' Let  us  therefore  look  upon  the  debt 
as  paid.  In  a  short  time  to  come  you  will  find  your 
hands  full  with  ship-building.  I  expect  that  your 
boat  will  stand  to  Vinland's  aid  and  strengthen  us 
greatly,  when  it  is  ready." 

So  unexpected  was  the  turn  that  for  a  time  it 
took  their  breath  away,  but  at  last  their  chief  re- 
covered enough  of  his  to  answer  gratefully : 

"  To  let  the  matter  rest  so  would  be  a  great 
98 


THE    HUNTSMAN    AND    THE    BOY 

help  for  us,  Karlsefnc.  If  we  do  not  serve  Vin- 
land  well,  it  will  not  be  for  lack  of  trying." 

"  That  is  well-spoken,  as  was  to  be  expected 
from  you,"  Karlsef ne  made  courteous  return ; 
whereupon  they  shook  hands  all  around  with  the 
ceremony  which  becomes  a  dealing  between  chiefs. 

After  they  had  parted  from  the  Lawman,  how- 
ever, and  were  skimming  through  the  grove  which 
was  the  back  dooryard  of  the  little  settlement, 
dignity  gave  way  to  delight.  Reaching  the  trail 
that  zigzagged  up  the  bluff,  they  streaked  down 
it  cheering,  and  cheering  slid  far  along  the  spark- 
ling track  of  the  river. 

Though  black  rifts  yawned  here  and  there  in 
the  middle  of  the  stream,  the  ice  within  a  hundred 
paces  of  the  shores  was  as  solid  as  a  rock  and  as 
smooth-carpeted  as  a  floor,  a  shining  temptation  to 
any  with  red  blood  in  his  veins.  From  sliding 
they  went  to  racing,  cleaving  the  air  like  swallows. 
There  is  no  knowing  when  they  would  have  stopped 
if  they  had  not  been  halted,  on  turning  a  bend  in 
the  river,  by  the  sight  of  smoke  curling  up  from 
behind  in  a  low  white  bank  ahead  of  them. 

In  the  same  breath  Brand  cried :  "  Skrael- 
99 


THE    VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

lings !  "  and  Gard  cried,  "  Dwarfs !  "  At  which 
Alrek  repeated  the  last  word  with  lifted  eyebrows : 

"  Dwarfs?  " 

Somewhat  shamefacedly,  Gard  explained  him- 
self :  "  I  said  that  in  j  est.  It  came  into  my  mind 
how  Biorn  Herjulfsson's  men  used  to  think  that 
this  land  was  inhabited  by  them.  But  the  rocks 
are  not  large  enough  here.  It  is  more  likely  to 
be  Skraellings." 

"  It  is  most  likely  to  be  some  of  our  own 
hunters,"  Alrek  dissented,  "  but  it  lies  on  our  shoul- 
ders to  investigate.  We  will  leave  our  skees  on  the 
ice  and  creep  close  to  the  bank  and  listen ;  the 
tongue  they  speak,  and  their  voices,  will  tell  us 
something.  If  they  are  Skraellings,  remember 
to  behave  well  toward  them,  but  on  no  account  allow 
them  to  get  hold  of  your  knives.  Karlsefne  would 
blame  the  man  strongly  who  should  give  them  a 
weapon." 

The  plan  was  simple  enough  to  carry  out,  for 
the  shore  was  flat  at  the  river's  edge.  With  a 
sudden  freak  of  perverseness,  Brand  decided  that 
doffing  his  skees  was  unnecessary,  and  edged  his 
way  up  sidewise,  the  six-foot  runners  threatening 
100 


THE    HUNTSMAN    AND    THE    BOY 

more  than  once  to  trip  his  neighbor.  But  they 
did  not  have  to  get  very  close  to  hear,  as  the  place 
was  still  and  the  voices  loud. 

Their  first  expression  was  disappointment,  for 
the  language  spoken  was  nothing  more  novel  than 
Norse,  and  the  voice  was  the  hoarse  one  of  the 
vagabond  Greenlander  known  as  Faste  the  Fat. 

" they  are  contented  with  no  better  ex- 
citement than  hunting,"  he  was  saying. 

"  And  to  get  only  such  wealth  as  is  to  be  got 
from  trading  with  Skraellings,"  added  the  grumble 
of  Ale  the  Greedy. 

In  the  faces  of  the  eavesdroppers  disappoint- 
ment began  to  give  place  to  curiosity. 

"  Better  two  followers  like  you  than  twenty 
cinder-biters,"  returned  a  third  voice,  harsh  and 
sneering  for  all  the  flattery  of  the  words.  "  I  have 
not  brought  my  news  forward  in  the  hall  because 
I  do  not  want  the  chiefs  to  take  the  power  out  of 
my  hands.  I  have  told  only  men  who " 

Snap!  Snap!  Recognizing  the  Huntsman, 
Brand  had  moved  involuntarily;  and  his  cumber- 
some foot-gear  came  in  contact  with  a  bush  and  the 
dry  twigs  broke.  Before  the  lads  could  more  than 
101 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

straighten,  the  giant  form  of  Thorhall  appeared 
at  the  top  of  the  bank,  his  knife  bare  in  his  hand. 

"  Prying  again !  "  he  snarled,  in  his  small  eyes 
so  evil  a  look  that  Gard's  fingers  began  instinc- 
tively to  shape  runes  against  charm-spells,  and 
Alrek's  deliberate  voice  became  fiercely  swift  as  at 
a  challenge. 

"  A  man  must  be  doing  something  which  he 
expects  to  have  pried  into  who  makes  his  council- 
hall  in  the  wastes,"  he  retorted.  "  We  thought 
the  smoke  must  be  from  a  Skraelling  cook -fire,  and 
crept  up  to  see." 

The  Huntsman  tossed  his  knife  back  to  its 
case,  and  his  anger  sheathed  itself  in  contempt. 
"  If  a  man  in  the  wastes  is  unable  to  escape  the 
meddling  of  fools,  what  would  he  not  have  to  en- 
dure who  remained  in  camp?  " 

To  that  there  did  not  appear  to  be  any  satis- 
factory answer;  and  as  he  remained  standing  with 
folded  arms,  plainly  awaiting  their  departure, 
there  did  not  seem  to  be  any  adequate  reason  for 
staying.  The  only  revenge  they  could  take  was 
to  move  away  in  the  most  deliberate  manner  pos- 
sible and  mutter  scathing  comment  to  one  another, 
102 


THE    HUNTSMAN    AND    THE    BOY 

feeling  all  the  while  his  eyes  like  knife-blades  in 
their  backs. 

"  It  has  something  to  do  with  that  bag  of  his." 
"  He  is  trying  to  get  another  ship-load  of  fools  to 
accompany  him  south —  "  If  he  thinks  the 
Weathercock  will  lend  him  another  boat — 
"  None  but  the  scum  will  listen  to  him —  "  I 
wonder  if  Ale  and  the  Fat  One  were  ashamed  to 
show  themselves  ?  "  "  Let  us  turn  around  sud- 
denly when  we  get  to  this  bend  and  see  if  they  are 
not  all  looking  after  us." 

Agreeing,  they  reached  the  bend  and  turned, — 
but  it  was  a  day  of  surprises.  Though  each  boy 
would  have  taken  oath  that  he  felt  that  gaze  on 
him  as  he  wheeled,  neither  Huntsman  nor  followers 
were  anywhere  to  be  seen.  And  as  they  stood 
staring,  Gard  uttered  a  smothered  cry  and  flung 
out  his  arm  in  another  direction,  toward  the  middle 
of  the  stream. 

Through  a  broken  place  in  the  ice  not  twenty 
paces  away,  two  claw-like  hands  were  reaching  up ; 
as  the  trio  gazed,  a  head  followed,  covered  with 
carrot-yellow  hair  which  hung  in  dripping  points 
about  two  starting  eyes  set  in  a  ghastly  blue- 
8  103 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

white  face.  Finally  a  white-cloaked  body  raised 
itself  over  the  edge  of  the  ice  and  stood  before 
them. 

Whether  it  would  retreat  or  advance  none 
waited  to  see.  With  a  yell  of  "  Hallad ! "  Gard 
was  off  up  the  river  at  a  deer's  pace,  the  others  at 
his  heels.  When  he  came  to  another  place  where 
the  bank  was  flat,  he  turned  his  long  toes  up  it  and 
plunged  into  the  forest,  the  others  still  following. 

Guiding  six-foot  runners  in  and  out  between 
trees,  however,  is  less  easy;  and  before  long  they 
were  forced  to  moderate  their  speed.  As  soon  as 
they  did  that,  Alrek's  wonted  coolness  was  able  to 
overtake  him.  He  stopped  disgustedly. 

"  We  are  simpletons  to  run.  Hallad  would  do 
us  no  harm." 

Gard  devoted  the  only  breath  he  had  to  tri- 
umph :  "  You  do  not  claim  that  it  is  Tunni,  now !  " 

"  It  is  Hallad,"  the  Red  One  agreed  in  a  gasp. 
"  If  we  could  cut  off  his  head  and  put  it  between 
his  feet,  that  would  make  him  rest  quiet." 

The  Ugly  One  shook  his  black  mane.  "  You 
forget  that  a  wave-covered  man  can  not  be  dug  up 
again.  It  is  said  to  be  a  sign  that  they  have  been 
104 


received  well  when  drowned  men  come  back  after 
their  death;  yet  Hallad  has  scarcely  the  look  of 
one  who  has  been  well  entertained — 

"  He  was  always  wanting  something  different 
from  what  he  had,"  Brand  sniffed. 

*'  However  that  is,  it  is  unlikely  that  he  has 
come  back  to  make  trouble,"  Alrek  said.  "  That 
is  only  done  by  men  who  were  unruly  before  their 
death.  Hallad  had  less  spirit  than  a  wood-goat 
when  he  was  alive.  I  think  we  were  fools  to  run." 

"  If  you  had  been  that  kind  of  a  fool  on  the 
Cape  of  the  Crosses,  you  would  have  made  more 
by  it,"  Gard  muttered  in  rare  resentfulness, — 
though  he  was  not  rash  enough  to  speak  so  that 
his  chief  could  hear  him. 

The  Sword-Bearer  on  his  side  knew  better  than 
to  ask  over.  Instead  he  said :  "  This  is  the  first 
time  I  have  been  in  this  part  of  the  country.  I 
wonder  what  kind  of  game  they  have  here,"  and 
moved  leisurely  away  where  a  treeless  space  left 
a  white  page  crossed  and  recrossed  with  woodland 
runes. 

Preferring  to  discuss  their  last  adventure  before 
they  sought  a  new  one,  the  other  two  sat  down  to 

105 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

wait  for  him.     But  they  were  hardly  settled  before 
his  whistled  call  brought  them  again  to  their  feet. 

They  found  him  kneeling  beside  a  trench-like 
trail,  testing  with  his  bared  hands  the  condition 
of  the  snow  that  had  fallen  back  into  it. 

"  If  this  were  a  five  days'  journey  north,  I 
should  declare  them  elk  tracks,"  he  said.  "  Snorri 
of  Iceland  shot  many  a  one  of  them  up  there,  last 
winter,  which  he  thought  greatly  superior  to  any 
we  have  in  Norway.  I  would  give  my  head  for 
another  elk  hunt."  He  remained  gazing  at  the 
trail  in  pleased  retrospection,  which  moved  the  two 
Greenlanders  to  say  enviously  that  they  had  never 
seen  an  elk. 

"  You  will  find  it  sport  when  you  do,"  the 
Sword-Bearer  assured  them.  Then  he  came  out  of 
his  musing  and  arose,  once  more  Alrek  the  Chief, 
brief  and  purposeful.  "  They  can  scarcely  be  less 
than  deer's,  however;  and  they  were  made  this 
morning.  It  is  easier  to  find  tracks  than  to  find 
what  made  them,  as  it  is  one  thing  to  sight  land 
across  drift-ice  and  another  to  land  on  it;  but  we 
shall  have  poor  luck  if  we  can  not  get  our  meat  out 
of  this." 

106 


THE    HUNTSMAN    AND    THE    BOY 


Instinctively  they  fell  again  under  his  leader- 
ship, straightening  as  he  rose  and  turning  their 
runners  in  the  direction  he  was  facing. 

"  Certainly  the  snow  could  not  be  in  better 
condition,"  Brand  gave  tacit  assent,  and  reassured 
himself  of  the  safety  of  the  quiver  at  his  back. 

"  I  knew  that  we  should  have  luck  to-day,  be- 
cause I  heard  a  wolf  howl  last  night,"  Gard  added, 
with  a  hitch  to  his  belt. 

Then  they  glided  away,  single  file,  under  the 
white  arches  spanning  the  white  aisles. 


107 


CHAPTER    X 

THROUGH    WHICH    THE    CHAMPIONS    CHASE 
VINLAND    ELK 

THROUGH  the  forest  and  out  like  flitting 
shadows,  pausing  only  to  make  sure  that  the  trail 
they  were  following  was  fresher  than  any  of  those 
which  crossed  it.  Over  a  pond  and  across  a  bog 
and  zigzag  up  a  hill, — they  had  not  grazed  a 
stone  or  snapped  a  twig;  it  seemed  that  every 
stride  must  bring  them  in  sight  of  the  game. 
Then,  on  the  other  side  of  the  slope,  Alrek  blun- 
dered. Descending  at  lightning  speed,  he  turned 
his  head  to  look  behind,  and  in  so  doing  uncon- 
sciously straightened  his  body  ever  so  little  from 
the  required  bend.  In  a  breath  he  was  seated  on 
the  snow  while  his  skees  finished  the  coast  without 
him,  at  the  bottom  dashing  noisily  against  a  stone. 
Instantly,  from  somewhere  in  the  white  distance, 
came  like  an  echo  the  sound  of  crashing  timber, 
a  sound  which  passed  so  quickly  that  if  only 
108 


CHASING    VINLAND    ELK 


one  had  heard  it  he  might  have  doubted  his 
ears. 

All  three  had  heard  it,  however;  and  the  two 
who  reached  the  bottom  still  shod  looked  scath- 
ingly upon  the  third  as  he  came  plunging  down, 
breaking  through  the  crust  to  his  knees  wherever 
it  covered  a  hollow. 

"  I  advise  you  to  tie  yourself  on,"  one  of  them 
jeered;  and  the  other  one  gibed:  "Would  you 
like  to  hold  to  my  cloak  in  going  down  the  next 
hill?" 

If  he  would,  the  Sword-Bearer  did  not  admit 
it;  but  it  was  something  that  he  was  reduced  to 
silence.  They  swung  after  him  in  high  feather 
when  he  was  once  more  on  his  runners  and  off 
across  the  valley. 

Beyond  the  next  rise  there  was  a  plain,  fringed 
by  a  thicket ;  and  there  in  the  packed  and  trampled 
snow  and  the  gnawed  branches  and  peeled  bark 
they  found  yet  more  tangible  proof  of  what  they 
had  lost. 

"  We  should  have  got  a  herd  if  nobody  had 
spoiled  it,"  Gard  grunted. 

Before  Brand  also  could  voice  his  reproach, 
109 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

Alrek — darting  here  and  there  among  the  trees  in 
search  of  the  new  trail — uttered  his  low  whistle  and 
was  off  like  a  hare.  Like  hounds  after  hare  they 
were  after  him,  and  Vinland  trees  looked  their  first 
upon  real  skee-running. 

Speed,  not  silence,  was  the  object  now.  More 
than  once  their  iron-shod  staffs  rang  sharply 
against  the  rocks  as  they  thrust  out  the  poles  to 
change  their  course,  rudder-like.  Finding  coasting 
too  slow  now,  they  took  the  last  half  of  each  hill 
at  a  leap.  And  when  a  plain  stretched  its  smooth 
surface  before  them,  or  a  frozen  pond  or  a  marsh, 
their  speed  was  the  speed  of  a  deer  at  his  best. 

And  now  the  hunted  were  far  from  their  best. 
The  holes  which  their  sharp  hoofs  had  at  first  cut 
so  cleanly  through  the  crust  were  becoming  hag- 
gled. Farther  on,  the  trail  itself  that  had  been 
so  straight  began  to  show  the  wavering  of  the 
panic-stricken.  At  last  the  hunters  came  to  a  place 
where  a  wisp  of  bloody  foam  stained  the  white. 
Only  a  rigid  economy  of  breath  kept  back  a  cheer, 
and  they  put  the  energy  saved  into  fresh  speed. 

A  jump  over  a  pile  of  boulders,  a  spurt  over 
a  low  knoll,  and  there  in  the  open  space  beyond 
110 


CHASING    VINLAND    ELK 


was  the  prey,  six  panting  froth-flecked  creatures, 
stricken  staring  with  terror. 

"  But  what  in  the  Troll's  name  are  they  ?  " 
cried  Gard  and  Brand  together,  at  sight  of  the 
huge,  shaggy,  ungainly  bodies  with  antlers  like 
shovels  and  enormous  noses  like  nothing  they  had 
ever  seen  in  their  lives. 

At  the  same  instant  Alrek  answered  them  with 
the  glad  cry :  "  Vinland  elk !  " 

The  next  instant  he  had  added  a  command  to 
halt,  checking  his  own  advance  by  a  thrust  of  his 
skee-staff  into  the  snow,  and  following  that  act  by 
casting  it  aside  and  swiftly  unslinging  his  bow: 
"  Be  on  your  guard !  They  have  not  deer's  tem- 
pers." 

Even  as  he  spoke,  the  bull  in  the  lead  flung 
up  his  mighty  antlered  head  and,  while  the  other 
five  moved  on,  wheeled  and  faced  the  foe,  like  a 
chief  covering  his  people's  retreat. 

Alrek  paid  him  the  tribute  of  an  admiring 
murmur,  but  the  withdrawal  of  the  five  set  the 
Greenlanders  wild  with  exasperation. 

"  Charge  him !  "  "  Finish  him !  "  "  Get  him 
out  of  the  way !  "  they  cried  savagely,  and  started 

111 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

forward  even  before  their  arrows  were  on  their 
bow-strings. 

The  only  thing  they  knew  clearly  after  that 
was  that  the  Vinland  elk  did  not  wait  to  be  charged. 
Gard,  who  was  a  length  ahead,  had  suddenly  a 
glimpse  of  eyes  like  balls  of  green  fire;  some- 
thing which  had  looked  as  fixed  as  a  boulder  be- 
came, lightning-quick,  a  hurtling  mass  descending 
on  him,  and  he  had  a  vision  of  terrible  sharp- 
edged  forefeet  that  could  mangle  a  man  to  jelly. 

Dropping  his  weapons,  he  turned  to  run,  but 
lapped  his  skees  and  fell  headlong.  Falling,  he 
uttered  a  hoarse  cry  as  he  saw  Brand's  hastily 
aimed  arrow  bury  itself  harmlessly  in  the  animal's 
flank.  Then,  as  he  rolled  backward,  he  caught 
sight  of  Alrek  and  regained  hope. 

Only  the  Sword-Bearer's  brown  cheeks,  flaming 
crimson,  showed  his  excitement;  the  rock  beside 
him  was  no  steadier  than  the  arm  that  held  his 
bow.  Drawing  back  the  string  with  all  his 
strength,  he  sent  an  arrow  through  the  shaggy 
neck  where  it  j  oins  the  body ;  and  the  great  beast 
fell  forward  on  his  knees  and  died  without  a 
quiver. 


CHASING    VINLAND    ELK 


As  the  animal  sank,  Gard  arose,  breathing 
curses  on  his  own  awkwardness  while  he  snatched 
up  his  scattered  weapons,  his  eyes  fixed  greedily 
on  the  five  disappearing  over  a  ridge.  And  Brand 
cried  fiercely :  "  There  is  as  much  ahead,  and  more 
besides !  "  and  leaped  forward.  And  Alrek  plucked 
forth  another  arrow  and  drew  himself  up  to  spring 
over  the  dead  forester  lying  high  before  him — 
drew  himself  up  and  then  paused  and  hesitated, 
gazing  down  at  the  mighty  shape.  As  nobly  war- 
rior-like as  he  had  made  his  desperate  charge,  so 
nobly  warrior-like  he  lay  in  his  death,  a  leader 
who  had  given  his  life  to  save  his  people. 

Slowly  the  young  Viking  stretched  forth  his 
hand.  "  Stop  !  "  he  ordered. 

Poised  in  mid-air,  as  it  were,  they  looked  over 
their  shoulders  at  him,  crying  impatiently :  "  What 
is  the  matter?  " 

This  time  the  Chief  of  the  Champions  gave  his 
gesture  authority.  "  Come  back.  To  kill  them 
also  would  be  a  low-minded  act.  He  took  his 
death-wound  to  save  them.  We  have  all  we  need. 
Come  back." 

An  instant  they  balanced  there,  gazing  at  the 
113 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

white  ridge  over  which  the  last  dark  form  was  dis- 
appearing. Then  the  obedience  bred  in  the  bones 
of  Gard  the  Thrall-Born  turned  him  back  to  his 
master. 

"  You  are  the  chief,"  he  muttered. 

At  the  same  time  Brand  the  Red  made  up  his 
mind.  "  Though  you  should  spend  all  your 
breath,  you  would  not  hinder  me  from  going ! "  he 
cried,  and  sprang  forward. 

The  arrow  which  Alrek  had  drawn  forth  was 
still  in  his  hand;  in  the  grasp  of  his  other  hand 
was  his  bow.  Fitting  the  shaft  on  the  string, 
he  spoke  his  warning: 

"  It  is  unlikely  that  you  will  do  any  hunting 
for  some  time  if  you  do  not  come  back." 

As  a  flame  to  a  dry  leaf,  so  was  a  threat  to 
Brand's  temper.  Hissing  defiance,  it  flared  up, 
and  he  redoubled  his  speed. 

Above  the  creak  of  his  skees  he  heard  at  the 
same  instant  two  sounds, — Gard's  voice  crying: 
"  Would  you  kill  him?  "  and  the  twang  of  Alrek's 
bow-string.  Then  his  right  arm  dropped  at  his  side 
with  an  arrow  through  it.  His  chief  had  foretold 
truly  that  he  would  do  no  more  hunting  for  some 
114 


CHASING    VINLAND    ELK 


time.  It  was  as  much  in  rage  as  pain  that  he 
caught  at  the  shaft,  cursing. 

Gard's  relief  took  the  form  of  boisterous  laugh- 
ter; but  the  Sword-Bearer,  as  soon  as  he  could 
make  himself  heard,  spoke  gravely : 

"  If  you  think  you  paid  too  much  for  your 
big  words,  you  have  only  your  own  foolishness  to 
thank  for  making  the  bargain." 

Coming  slowly  back  to  them,  still  holding  his 
arm,  Brand's  face  was  as  white  as  it  had  been  that 
day  on  shipboard ;  but  there  was  no  less  of  a  swag- 
ger in  his  bearing.  "  Who  says  I  paid  too  much?  " 
he  panted.  "  I  shall  say  what  I  choose  though 
you  shoot  into  me  every  arrow  of  your  quiver.  / 
find  no  fault  with  the  bargain !  " 

Alrek's  gravity  yielded  to  one  of  his  short  sud- 
den laughs.  "  Now  if  you  are  satisfied,  it  is  certain 
that  I  am,"  he  said,  and  studied  the  Red  One  with 
twinkling  eyes.  Amusement  was  still  alight  in 
them  when  he  stepped  forward  and  held  out  his 
hand,  yet  there  was  also  in  his  manner  a  new 
cordiality.  "  It  has  never  happened  to  me  before 
to  meet  a  sprout  to  equal  you,"  he  declared.  "  I 
foretell  that  I  shall  certainly  kill  you  some  time, 

115 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

but  I  promise  that  I  will  carve  runes  about  you 
afterward." 

"  How  do  you  know  that  it  will  be  you  who  does 
the  rune-carving  ?  "  Brand  retorted ;  but  at  the 
same  time  he  yielded  his  palm  with  flattered  willing- 
ness. A  little  later  he  even  yielded  his  wounded 
arm  that  the  hand  which  put  the  shaft  in  might 
cut  it  out  again. 

Twilight  never  gathered  in  upon  a  more  con- 
tented party  than  these  three  weary  hunters, 
sprawled  luxuriously  on  the  fragrant  heaps  of 
evergreen  boughs  around  the  leaping  fire,  fed  to 
repletion  on  the  daintiest  food  they  knew,  pouring 
their  hearts  out  in  discussion  of  the  day's  ad- 
ventures. They  fell  asleep  wrangling  over  the 
placing  of  the  antlers  on  the  booth  wall. 


116 


CHAPTER    XI 

TELLING  HOW  TRADE  WITH  THE  SKRAELLINGS  CAME 
TO    A    MYSTERIOUS   END 

THE  antlers  were  finally  hung  over  the  high- 
seat,  while  the  hide  made  a  blanket  for  the  bunk 
below,  and  the  effect  was  so  imposing  that  every 
Champion  went  fur-mad  as  soon  as  he  saw  them. 
For  a  month  afterward,  it  took  all  the  chief's  au- 
thority to  keep  the  fuel  pile  supplied  and  cooks  at 
their  post.  Every  lad  not  told  off — and  told 
sternly  off — for  public  service  or  private  drudgery, 
spent  his  days  in  ranging  the  country  in  search  of 
spoil,  and  his  nights  in  dreaming  of  hunts  wherein 
each  dead  tree  should  turn  out  to  be  the  den  of  a 
hibernating  bear  which  he  would  slay  with  valorous 
ease  and  bring  home  to  deck  the  high-seat,  even  as 
Leif  the  Lucky  had  done  before  him. 

The  way  in  which  they  did  finally  come  into 
possession  of  a  bearskin,  however,  was  really  more 
dream-like  than  their  dream. 

117 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

Nothing  could  have  been  more  peaceful  than 
the  beginning  of  the  happening,  in  the  women's 
room  of  Karlsefne's  booth.  Loafing  after  the  noon- 
day meal,  Erlend  the  Amiable  had  stretched  his 
plump  length  over  the  cushions  of  a  bench.  At 
one  end  of  the  fire,  the  long-kirtled  forms  of 
Gudrid  and  her  women  moved  to  and  fro  before 
their  looms.  At  the  other,  where  the  firelight 
lay  brightest,  the  Sword-Bearer  was  playing 
wolf  with  the  baby, — a  game  evoking  so  much 
rumbling  growling  and  squealing  laughter  that 
presently  it  took  precedence  of  the  conversa- 
tion. 

"  You  are  spoiling  him,  Kinsman  Alrek," 
Gudrid  said,  looking  around  the  edge  of  her  loom 
with  a  smile  which  belied  her  reproach. 

The  prettiest  of  the  bondmaids  gave  her  braids 
a  pettish  flirt.  "  That  is  so,"  she  confirmed.  "  Yes- 
terday, when  it  happened  that  I  was  at  the  door 
trying  to  talk  to  Hauk  Votsson,  I  was  obliged  to 
turn  around  and  growl  between  every  two  words 
or  the  child  would  have  deafened  us.  I  do  not 
know  what  Hauk  thought  of  me." 

"  If  you  wish,  I  will  ask  him,"  Erlend 
118 


A    MYSTERIOUS    END 


offered, — a  piece  of  flippancy  which  cost  him  his 
comfort,  as  to  save  his  ears  he  was  obliged  to  take 
to  instant  flight  around  the  looms. 

But  Alrek,  sitting  back  on  his  heels,  shaking 
back  his  long  hair,  remained  intent  upon  the  cradle. 
"  It  is  the  greatest  fun,"  he  said,  "  to  see  the  cub 
try  to  frown  at  me.  His  eyebrows  are  like  the  fuzz 
on  a  chicken,  yet  he  tries  to  make  them  look  like  his 
namesake's,  before  a  laugh  gets  the  better  of  him. 
Watch  now !  " 

Small  Snorri  had  been  there  but  seven  months ; 
he  was  still  wonderfully  new.  The  maid  and  Er- 
lend  left  their  chase,  and  Gudrid  came  from  her 
loom,  and  together  they  watched  breathlessly  the 
knitting  of  the  downy  brows  above  the  blue  eyes, 
and  the  slow  dawning  of  the  unwilling  smile, 
brighter  and  brighter,  until  in  each  soft  cheek  a 
dimple  broke. 

"  He  is  going  to  be  in  every  respect  like  his 
father !  "  Gudrid  cried,  falling  on  her  knees  beside 
him.  And  she  was  smothering  him  with  kisses, 
and  the  others  were  looking  on  sympathetically, 
when  the  door  was  flung  open  before  little  Olaf  the 
Fair,  rosy  and  breathless. 
9  119 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

"  Where  is  Alrek  ?  "  he  panted.  "  I  want — Oh ! 
Alrek !  What  do  you  think  I  have  seen  ?  " 

"  Hallad  ?  "  shrieked  the  three  bondmaids  to- 
gether. 

"  Skraellings !  Black  as  crowberries.  Crossing 
the  open  space  west  of  here.  With  big  packs  on 
their  backs.  I  was  up  in  that  tree  by  the  wheat- 
shed,  watching  for  Brand  to  slip  on  the  slide  I 
had  made  to  get  revenge  on  him  for  cuffing  me, 
and —  "  His  voice  was  lost  in  the  babel  of  excla- 
mations that  came  from  the  bondmaids  and  from 
the  men  peering  around  the  hall  door. 

Gudrid  rose  from  beside  the  cradle  with  a  ges- 
ture of  authority.  "  Too  much  noise  is  here.  Since 
Karlsefne  is  away  it  behooves  us  to  be  especially 
careful  how  we  behave.  Run,  some  one  of  you,  to 
the  Icelanders'  booth.  I  know  that  Snorri  is  not 
there,  but  if  it  happen  that  Biorn  is,  ask  him  to 
get  a  following  together  and  stand  ready  to  receive 
the  wild  men.  And  since  it  is  likely  that  they  will 
want  to  buy  the  same  dairy  wares  as  before,  Mel- 
korka,  you  may  have  charge — but  there!  Teh! 
Your  heedlessness  is  such  that  you  would  give  them 
three  times  as  much  as  they  required.  I  shall  have 
120 


A    MYSTERIOUS    END 


to  portion,  it  out  myself.  The  child  I  will  leave 
with  you,  Roswitha — No,  you  would  forget  him  if 
a  man  so  much  as  looked  through  the  door  at  you ! 
Kinsman ! "  She  laid  a  white  hand  on  Alrek's 
brown  one  as  he  would  have  moved  past  her.  "  He 
is  more  fond  of  you  than  of  any  one,  and  I  would 
trust  you  before  a  hundred  girls, — so  long  as  you 
keep  his  fingers  away  from  that  hatchet  in  your 
belt.  Will  you  not  stay  with  him  the  little  while 
that  I  must  be  in  the  dairy  ?  " 

Stay  with  a  baby  while  the  long-looked- 
forward-to  trading  went  on  without  him !  Frown- 
ing involuntarily,  the  Sword-Bearer  hesitated, — 
and  during  that  pause  the  Fate  who  was  spinning 
his  life-thread  sat  with  suspended  breath,  so  much 
hung  on  his  answer. 

It  can  not  be  denied  that  it  came  somewhat 
grudgingly  when  it  did  come.  "  Why — if  it  will 
be  a  little  while,  kinswoman,"  he  stipulated,  turn- 
ing back. 

Gudrid  waited  to  hear  no  more;  with  the  last 
word  she  was  off,  sweeping  the  maids  like  chaff 
before  her.  Erlend  and  Olaf  had  long  since  van- 
ished; and  now  the  men  could  be  heard  clattering 
121 


THE    VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

out  of  the  great  next  room  that  was  their  head- 
quarters. 

From  the  green  behind  the  booths  came  the 
clamor  of  barking  dogs  and  the  thud  of  running 
feet  accompanied  by  excited  voices,  now  far  away, 
now  just  outside  the  door.  Gradually  the  scat- 
tered chatter  blended  into  a  hum;  the  hum  rose 
higher  and  higher;  then  fell  suddenly  in  a  hush 
so  deep  that  it  seemed  to  the  Sword-Bearer  he 
could  hear  the  pat  of  bare  feet  and  the  rustle  of 
boughs  put  aside;  and  his  fancy  conjured  up  a 
picture  of  dark  forms  with  bright-eyed  shaggy 
heads  bent  under  shaggier  packs,  emerging  single 
file  from  the  white  depths  of  the  forest.  Directly 
after,  the  sound  of  strange  guttural  voices  speak- 
ing words  he  had  never  heard  told  him  that  some 
part  of  his  vision  was  correct. 

"Oh,  you  great  hindrance ! "  he  sighed  to  the 
tyrant  in  the  cradle. 

But  as  even  while  he  complained,  he  obeyed  the 
command  of  the  chubby  fists  by  picking  up  the 
soft  little  body  as  gently  as  a  woman  would  have 
done,  and  tossing  and  dandling  it  in  his  strong 
brown  hands  as  no  woman  could  have  done,  the 
122 


A    MYSTERIOUS    END 


tyrant  was  in  no  way  cast  down  but  clung  to  him 
confidingly,  catching  his  breath  with  squeals  of 
delight  and  winding  up  by  burying  both  fists 
in  the  brown  mane  with  a  rapture  of  gurgling 
laughter. 

So  Gudrid  found  them  when  she  came  in,  the 
color  of  haste  in  her  fair  face;  and  her  smile  was 
very  lovely  as  she  took  her  baby  from  his  guard. 

"  Whether  you  are  like  your  father  or  not, 
Alrek  my  kinsman,  you  have  a  good  disposition," 
she  said ;  then  went  on  swiftly :  "  I  hurried  be- 
cause I  want  to  remind  you  of  something.  I  beg 
of  you,  do  not  forget  that  Karlsefne  has  forbidden 
any  weapon  whatever  to  be  traded  to  the  hatchet- 
men,  no  matter  what  loose  property  they  offer  for 
it.  Do  not  forget,  or  let  your  men  forget." 

Alrek's  glance  reassured  her.  "  I  will  remem- 
ber," he  said  quietly. 

"Then  go  quickly!  They  have  only  just 
opened  their  packs."  She  gave  him  a  little  shove, 
but  she  might  have  saved  herself  the  trouble  for 
he  was  out  of  the  door  at  a  bound. 

Coming  out  into  the  gathering  was  like  coming 
upon  some  strange  new-world  fair.  Everywhere 


THE    VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

over  the  white  of  the  snow-covered  earth,  against 
the  gray  of  the  snow-filled  sky,  the  Northmen's  gay 
cloaks  made  rings  of  bright  color  around  the  dark 
fur-clad  forms  of  the  wild  men.  Everywhere  the 
sounds  of  fair-time  had  vanquished  the  stillness 
of  the  forest, — the  hails  of  eager  barterers,  the 
boasts  of  jubilant  purchasers,  even  the  familiar 
din  of  fighting  dogs  wherever  a  Norse  hound  and 
one  of  Skraelling  breed  were  able  to  find  a  spot 
free  from  interfering  boot-toes. 

On  the  step  before  the  dairy  door,  the  yellow 
heads  of  the  three  pretty  bondmaids  showed  above 
a  hedge  of  bristling  black  locks ;  the  love  of  trad- 
ing, so  long  denied,  getting  the  better  of  any  fear 
they  might  have  felt  of  their  uncouth  customers. 
As  Alrek  looked,  Roswitha  with  one  hand  delivered 
a  cheese  ball  into  a  copper-colored  palm  and  with 
the  other  drew  in  a  magnificent  wolf -skin ;  while 
Melkorka,  her  saucy  Irish  face  twinkling  with  mis- 
chief, ladled  curds  from  her  bowl  into  the  gaping 
mouth  of  an  enormous  Skraelling,  standing  before 
her  with  half-shut  eyes  and  an  air  of  solemn 
content. 

"  If  only  we  could  build  cows  as  well  as  ships 


She  ladled  curds  from  her  bowl  into  the  gaping  mouth. 


A    MYSTERIOUS    END 


out  of  timber !  "  the  Sword-Bearer  wished  as  he 
watched  them  with  a  grin. 

He  was  brought  out  of  his  reverie  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  shadow  on  the  snow  at  his  feet. 
Though  he  had  not  heard  the  faintest  sound  of  an 
approach,  he  looked  up  to  find  a  wild  man  as  dark 
as  the  shadow  and  almost  as  tall  standing  at  his 
side.  Over  the  Skraelling's  left  shoulder  and  arm 
was  hung  a  bearskin  which  took  the  Viking's 
breath  to  look  at ;  his  right  arm  he  was  stretching 
toward  Alrek's  sword,  a  glitter  of  indescribable 
craftiness  in  his  beady  eyes.  It  was  so  like  the 
stories  that  the  Irish  monks  told  of  the  wiles  of  the 
Evil  One  that  Alrek's  recoil  had  in  it  even  a  touch 
of  superstitious  fear. 

"  No,"  he  said  severely.  "  No !  "  And  with- 
out further  parley,  he  turned  and  hastened  in  the 
direction  in  which  Brand's  red  locks  glowed  be- 
tween the  gray  of  cap  and  cloak,  like  fire  amid 
ashes. 

"  I  want  to  know  at  once  that  you  have  remem- 
bered not  to  trade  them  any  weapons,"  he  demanded 
with  an  urgent  hand  on  the  Red  One's  arm. 

Once  Brand  would  have  shaken  off  that  hand 
125 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

resentfully ;  now  he  looked  around  with  affectionate 
impudence.  "  Which  are  you  the  more  anxious  to 
know, — that  I  have  remembered  or  that  I  have  not 
traded  ?  "  he  parried. 

The  Sword-Bearer  let  his  hand  fall  with  a 
breath  of  relief.  "  Since  you  can  make  light  of  the 
matter,  I  know  that  no  harm  has  been  done;  if 
you  had  been  disobedient,  you  would  have  hurled 
the  news  at  me  like  a  spear.  I  trust  you  to  keep 
on  remembering  it." 

Brand  made  him  a  salute  of  mock  deference. 
"  I  will  heed  your  orders  in  this  as  in  everything," 
he  mouthed  the  formal  phrase  of  submission. 

"  Now  I  hope  you  will  do  better  than  that," 
his  chief  returned ;  then  hailed  the  Hare,  scudding 
past,  and  bade  him  summon  every  member  of  the 
band  to  immediate  council. 

When  at  last  they  were  all  before  him,  and  he 
had  obtained  from  them  individually  an  assurance 
that  the  order  was  still  unbroken,  he  delivered  the 
command  over  again  with  all  the  weight  he  could 
bring  to  bear. 

They  received  the  reminder  as  insult  added  to 
injury. 

126 


A    MYSTERIOUS    END 


"  I  do  not  think  I  stand  in  need  of  telling  when 
already  for  my  poorest  spear  I  have  refused  three 
wolfskins!"  the  Bull  cried,  wagging  his  yellow 
head ;  while  Kctil  the  Glib  mocked  openly : 

"  Behold  the  caution !  Lose  no  time  in  punish- 
ing Erlend  who  has  traded  them  a  brooch  with  a 
pin  as  long  as  my  finger." 

Even  small  Olaf  sniffed  rebelliously.  "  If  I  had 
known  that  was  all  you  were  going  to  say,  I  doubt 
if  I  would  have  come.  I  thought  you  were  going 
to  offer  us  your  red  cloak  to  trade  with." 

"  My  red  cloak  ?  "  Alrek  repeated. 

Forty  eyes  fastened  themselves  wistfully  on  the 
garment,  while  at  least  ten  voices  answered :  "  Of 
course  it  is  not  to  be  expected—  "  Yet  you  could 
buy  the  most  costly  furnishings—  "  They 
would  like  it  better  than  curds  even—  "  Njal 
got  the  finest  gray  fur  only  for  a  kerchief  with 
one  stripe  of  red."  "  Think  if  this  were  cut  in 
strips !  "  "  Another  cloak  would  keep  you  equally 
warm — »  "Karlsefne  would  give  you  a  king's 
mantle  for  the  asking — 

Shaking  his  head,  Alrek  folded  the  stained 
drapery  to  him  with  both  arms.  "  You  show  too 

127 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

much  generosity!  I  can  tell  you  that  you  would 
not  get  this  though  it  would  buy  all  the  fur  in 
Vinland.  My  father  gave  it  to  me  at  the  time  of 
my  first  Viking  voyage;  while  one  thread  holds  to 
another,  I  shall  wear  it."  Then  he  unfolded  his 
arms  with  a  gesture  more  encouraging.  "  But  it 
may  be  that  we  shall  not  fare  so  ill,  for  I  have  hit 
upon  another  plan.  I  have  a  suit  of  feasting- 
clothes  of  red  velvet 

Not  one  of  the  twenty  waited  to  hear  more; 
after  the  Hare  the  band  was  off  like  the  tail 
after  a  comet.  The  Sword-Bearer  considered  him- 
self lucky  that  he  reached  the  booth  in  time  to 
secure  one  sleeve  for  his  own  ventures. 

After  that  the  trading  was  like  trading  in  a 
dream.  Even  after  the  first  recklessness  had  passed 
and  they  had  cut  the  velvet  into  strips  no  wider  than 
their  thumbs,  the  same  sizes  of  skins  were  given  in 
exchange.  Erlend,  the  first  to  run  out  of  purchase 
money,  was  made  custodian  of  the  spoils;  and  the 
rapidity  with  which  the  pile  grew  behind  him  in 
what  remained  of  the  short  afternoon  was  enough 
to  heat  cooler  blood.  By  the  falling  of  twilight, 
Alrek  announced  the  whimsical  determination  to 
128 


A    MYSTERIOUS    END 


try  if  he  could  not  capture  the  bearskin  itself  with 
what  remained  of  his  red  sleeve  and  the  foot  of  a 
red  stocking  which  he  had  found. 

Because  of  the  failing  light,  quenched  early 
by  a  gentle  fall  of  snow,  the  trading  had  ceased 
before  he  started.  Here  and  there,  where  light 
streamed  out  through  open  doors,  the  forest  men 
stooped  in  groups,  packing  for  departure  all  wares 
not  previously  bound  around  their  heads  or  be- 
stowed in  their  stomachs.  From  group  to  group 
he  went  without  finding  the  tall  Skraelling,  until 
suddenly  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  him  passing  the 
last  door  in  the  line,  the  door  of  their  own  booth. 
It  looked  as  though  the  great  skin  was  still  draping 
his  shoulders,  so  Alrek  started  leisurely  toward 
him  and  reached  the  wheat  shed  this  side  of  the 
Champions'  booth.  Then  he  slipped  on  Olaf's  slide 
and  fell,  striking  his  head  against  a  great  oak 
root. 

That  was  the  last  thing  he  remembered, — and 
he  did  not  remember  that  for  some  time.  The  next 
thing  he  was  conscious  of  was  sitting  in  his  high- 
seat  in  the  booth,  in  silence  and  alone.  The  flick- 
ering firelight  that  showed  him  the  stretch  of  empty 

129 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

benches  revealed  gradually  to  his  bewildered  eyes 
a  dark  huddled  shape  on  the  white  surface  of  the 
table  in  front  of  him.  What  it  was  or  how  it  got 
there,  he  knew  no  more  than  what  he  was  doing 
there  himself.  He  wondered  dully  if  the  Hunts- 
man could  have  put  a  spell  upon  him,  until — like 
a  wind-breath  through  a  fog — came  the  recollection 
that  a  sailor  had  once  told  him  of  having  had  a 
similar  experience,  and  that  it  had  been  caused 
by  striking  his  head  in  falling  through  a  hatchway 
on  the  ship.  Moving  his  head,  the  Sword-Bearer 
found  it  as  sore  as  an  unhealed  wound,  and  that 
part  of  his  problem  was  solved.  But  where  had  he 
been,  and  why  was  the  booth  empty  at  this  time 
of  day?  It  was  a  relief  to  have  the  door  open 
upon  Gard's  hulking  long-armed  figure,  powdered 
with  glistening  snow. 

When  the  Ugly  One  had  taken  three  steps  be- 
yond the  threshold,  he  saw  the  chief  in  the  high-seat 
and  stopped  with  a  loud  exclamation. 

Alrek  grinned  faintly.     "  Your  surprise  is  no 

greater  than  mine.     I  should  be  thankful  if  you 

would  tell  me  how  I  got  here.    No,"  as  Gard  made 

a  gesture  of  unbelief,  "  I  declare  myself  in  earnest. 

130 


A    MYSTERIOUS    END 


I  suppose  I  fell  and  struck  my  head  somewhere. 
Do  you  know  where  I  have  been?  And  why  the 
booth  is  empty  ?  " 

When  he  had  come  around  the  fire  and  looked 
curiously  at  the  Sword-Bearer,  Gard's  doubts  were 
laid.  "  The  proof  of  this  is  that  the  left  side  of 
your  face  is  scratched  and  dirty,"  he  said.  "  It 
is  likely  that  you  fell  on  Olaf's  slide.  You  were 
going  in  that  direction,  the  last  I  saw  of  you.  I 
forgot  you  after  the  screech." 

"What  screech?" 

"  The  yell  that  started  the  Skraellings,  of 
course." 

"What  Skraellings?" 

"  What  Skraellings !  "  Gard  echoed ;  but  Al- 
rek's  memory  had  stirred. 

"  I    remember !     They    were   here   trading.     I 
came  out  of  the  women's  house  and  saw  them— 
He  got  upon  his  feet.    "  Are  they  gone?  " 

Gard  began  to  laugh.  "  You  are  addled !  I 
should  have  thought  the  racket  sufficient  to  wake 
Thorwald  in  his  grave.  It  is  certain  that  they  are 
gone !  At  the  first  note  of  the  yell  they  dropped 
their  packs  and  plunged  into  the  woods,  howling 

131 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

like  trolls.  What  frightened  them  this  time,  no 
one  knows.  Erlend  and  Brand  followed,  and  also 
some  of  the  other  men  of  the  band,  but  the  creatures 

4 

seemed  to  melt  and  vanish.  The  men  are  only  just 
coming  back.  That  is  why  no  one  is  here  yet  to  get 
the  meal." 

Coming  down  to  the  fire,  Alrek  kicked  the  logs 
about,  partly  to  mend  the  burning,  partly  to  vent 
his  irritation.  "  Never  have  I  heard  of  a  fall  so 
foolishly  timed.  I  could  give  my  head  another 
knock —  What  is  this?  Fur?  "  He  stretched  his 
hand  toward  the  table.  "  A  bearskin?  What  a — 
the  bearskin  the  Skraelling  offered  for  my  sword?  " 
Memory  came  back  like  a  rush  of  fire,  lighting  the 
dark  corners  of  his  mind,  flaming  from  his  eyes  as 
he  turned  upon  the  slouching  figure.  "  How  did 
it  come  here  ?  " 

Gard  began  to  speak  with  unwonted  swiftness: 
"  It  is  true,  I  forgot  to  tell  you  that  I  bought  it 
myself.  You  must  recollect  that  things  were  not 
so  dear  at  the  end  of  the  trading.  I  gave  only  a 
piece  of  your  tunic  and — and  my  ring  with  the 
red  stone.  I  would  not  have  parted  with  that  ring 
for  anything  less.  He  liked  very  much  to  get  it, 
132 


A    MYSTERIOUS    END 


and  put  it  on  his  finger  as  soon —  He  broke  off 
as  Alrek's  hands  fell  upon  his  shoulders,  forcing 
him  down  on  his  knees  where  the  fire  could  light  his 
face.  For  the  moment  they  were  neither  comrade 
and  comrade,  nor  chief  and  follower,  but  master 
and  thrall. 

The  Sword-Bearer's  low  voice  seemed  a  hiss 
between  his  teeth.  "  Swear  to  me  that  you  gave 
no  weapon  for  it!  Take  oath  on  the  cross  of  my 
sword  hilt !  " 

Gard  reached  out  even  eagerly.  "  I  take  oath  on 
the  cross,  so  help  me  Frey  and  Njord  and  Odin!  " 

After  a  while  Alrek's  hands  relaxed  their 
grasp.  It  was  some  time  before  his  eyes  loosened 
their  hold,  but  at  last  they  also  released  the  Ugly 
One  and  fell  away,  back  to  the  fur.  "  It  is  good 
that  you  are  able  to  swear  to  it,"  he  said  grimly. 

Brushing  from  his  knee  the  ashes  into  which 
he  had  been  forced,  the  Ugly  One  grunted.  "  Do 
you  think  I  am  a  fool  like  Brand?  Even  if  I  did 
not  care  for  your  orders,  would  I  not  be  apt  to 
heed  Karlsef  ne's  ?  " 

"  It  is  a  good  thing  that  you  do,"  the  chief 
said  again. 

133 


CHAPTER    XII 

IN    WHICH    THE    CHAMPIONS    FEEL    THEIR 
IMPORTANCE 

SMILING,  Gudrid  drew  out  the  head  she  had 
thrust  through  the  booth  door  at  Erlend's  urgent 
invitation.  "  It  is  as  splendid  as  can  be  in  every 
way.  I  do  not  wonder  that  you  want  to  give  a 
feast  to  display  it." 

A  little  consciousness  was  in  Erlend's  laugh  as 
he  shut  the  door  and  walked  beside  her  through 
the  grove.  "  It  is  not  altogether  to  display  it," 
he  protested.  "  In  a  few  weeks  the  spring  games 
will  be  held;  it  is  the  custom  of  every  one  to  give 
a  feast  at  that  season.  I  tell  you  we  are  going 
to  show  some  great  feats.  We  exercise  ourselves 
every  afternoon.  They  are  practising  now  in  an 
open  place  which  the  chief  found  in  the  woods. 
That  is  where  I  am  going." 

Pausing,  Gudrid  drew  higher  on  her  hip  her 
accustomed  burden,  a  bundle  wrapped  in  white 
134 


FEEL    THEIR    IMPORTANCE 

rabbit-skins  from  which  looked  forth  a  little  rosy 
face.  "Is  Alrek  there?"  she  asked.  "Then  I 
think  I  will  try  my  luck  in  that  direction,  if  so  be 
they  will  allow  a  woman  to  come  near?  " 

"  I  think  they  will  not  mind  your  coming  if 
you  go  right  away  again,"  Erlend  concluded  after 
some  consideration. 

Apparently  she  felt  equal  to  the  risk,  for  she 
entered  with  him  the  broad  trough-like  path  trod- 
den through  the  snow  of  the  grove.  "  I  go  only 
for  a  walk,"  she  said.  "  We  have  been  too  much 
shut  in  the  house,  the  child  and  I,  since  that  fright- 
ful trading  day." 

It  seemed  to  the  Amiable  One  that  she  shivered 
as  she  spoke,  so  he  observed  politely :  "  It  is  a  bad 
thing  that  you  were  made  sick  by  it.  Melkorka 
says  that  you  even  saw  a  ghost." 

"  Melkorka  blunders  much  in  her  speaking  and 
blundered  twice  as  much  in  her  hearing,"  Gudrid 
answered.  "  I  said  only  that  I  got  so  full  of  fear 
that  I  expected  to  see  ghosts.  Sitting  alone  in  the 
house  with  the  child,  it  came  into  my  head  what 
might  happen  if  the  Skraellings  should  turn  an 
evil  side,  with  Karlsefne  away  and  that  good- 
10  135 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

natured  Biorn  not  expecting  evil.  And  the  more 
I  thought,  the  stranger  the  noises  outside  seemed 
to  me  and  the  stranger  shapes  the  shadows  took, 
until  once  I  was  so  sure  that  one  was  a  Skraelling 
stealing  in  upon  me  that  I  bent  over  and  covered 
the  cradle  with  my  body, — and  just  then  came  that 
cry ! "  She  pressed  her  hand  to  her  ear  at  the 
recollection. 

Erlend  smiled  indulgently.  "  Now  did  you 
think  it  so  terrible?  It  is  likely  that  one  of  them 
looked  into  the  cattle-shed  and  saw  the  bull " 

The  glance  her  blue  eyes  sent  over  her  shoulder 
silenced  him  even  before  her  words.  "  It  would  be 
a  strange  wonder  if  you  could  tell  me  news  about 
it!  Was  I  not  here  at  the  time  the  bull  fright- 
ened them?  I  heard  how  they  screamed  then,  and 
it  was  as  different  from  this  screech  as  day  from 
night.  In  this  cry  there  were  death-sounds  and 
no  life-sounds.  My  foster-mother,  Halldis,  was 
knowing  in  weird  matters.  I  know  of  what  I  speak, 
though  all  men  think  otherwise.  And  I  know 
enough  to  wish  to  forget  the  mishap.  Let  us  not 
talk  of  it  any  more.  I  wish  to  enjoy  this  fine 
weather." 

136 


FEEL    THEIR    IMPORTANCE 

It  was  a  day  to  be  enjoyed.  Beyond  the  net- 
work of  brown  branches  the  sky  was  dazzling  blue, 
with  here  and  there  a  fleecy  cloud.  Dazzling  white, 
snow  lay  in  the  curves  of  the  boughs  and  filled  the 
hollows  of  the  ground ;  though  on  the  ridges  where 
the  bright  sun  touched,  the  brown  earth  showed 
through.  Everywhere,  the  wind  was  inoistly, 
sweetly  fresh. 

"  I  do  not  wonder  that  it  makes  you  kick  up 
your  heels  like  young  horses,"  Gudrid  laughed, 
when  she  came  at  last  to  the  level  treeless  space  in 
whose  middle  six  Champions  leaped  and  wrestled, 
while  ten  more  lounged  at  one  side,  applauding  or 
hissing  the  wrestlers  as  their  critical  judgment 
decided. 

At  sight  of  Erlend,  the  ten  waved  their  hands 
in  careless  greeting ;  at  sight  of  the  kirtled  figure 
of  Gudrid,  they  sat  up  in  unmistakable  disap- 
proval; and  a  long  lean  wrestler  with  a  mane  of 
red  hair  stamped  petulantly  when  he  was  obliged 
to  retire  from  the  field  to  the  bordering  trees  where 
his  tunic  and  cloak  awaited  him. 

"  Though  no  more  than  seven  women  are  in 
Vinland,  a  man  can  not  get  away  from  them 

137 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

though  he  go  into  the  heart  of  a  wood,"  he  sput- 
tered. 

"  Hush !  She  will  hear  you,"  muttered  Gard, 
who  stood  beside  him;  whereupon  the  Red  One's 
voice  rose  in  exasperation: 

"  I  do  not  care  whether  she  hears  me  or  not ! 
Will  you  keep  to  what  concerns  you?  I  have  told 
you  before  this  that  I  am  able  to  pay  the  price  of 
my  deeds." 

From  under  the  tunic  he  was  about  to  pull  down 
over  his  head,  Gard  looked  at  him  irefully.  "  And 
I  have  told  you,"  he  retorted,  "  that  one  can  not 
always  tell  what  the  price  of  his  deed  will  be." 

"  I  do  not  care  what  it  is ! "  bellowed  Brand. 

Harald  Grettirsson  turned  on  them  with  a  grin. 
"  What  ails  you  two  that  you  have  done  nothing 
but  quarrel  since  the  trading  day?  Cool  off  a 
little,"  he  jeered,  and  suddenly  ran  into  them  so 
that  they  were  jostled  off  the  high  ground  into 
a  hollow  and  sank  in  snow  up  to  their  waists.  Fore- 
seeing vengeance,  Grettirsson  took  promptly  to 
his  heels,  and  the  desertion  of  the  three  completed 
the  interruption  begun  by  the  appearance  of 
Gudrid's  blue  hood. 

138 


FEEL    THEIR    IMPORTANCE 

Gudrid  took  her  departure  with  tactful  prompt- 
ness. "  Now  you  need  not  trouble  yourself  to  hunt 
for  fine  words,"  she  forestalled  the  somewhat  em- 
barrassed greeting  of  her  young  kinsman.  "  I  am 
well  versed  in  the  Viking  laws  about  keeping 
women  out ;  we  have  no  other  intention  than  to  go 
directly  back,  the  Frowner  and  I." 

Cordial  as  his  relations  with  his  kinswoman 
were,  the  chief  could  not  ask  her  to  alter  her 
decision ;  but  he  reached  out  and  took  the  bundle 
off  her  hip.  "  The  Frowner.  is  not  a  woman,"  he 
corrected.  "  I  think  he  will  like  the  noise  better 
than  the  rattling  of  his  string  of  shark's  teeth.  I 
will  see  to  it  that  he  comes  to  no  harm." 

The  mother  yielded  him  doubtfully.  "  But 
do  you  know  for  certain  that  you  will?  "  she 
demurred.  "  If  he  should  get  his  hand  on  the 
hatchet  in  your  belt 

"  Why,  he  would  be  able  to  do  more  than  I 
can,"  Alrek  finished  for  her.  "  I  have  been  unable 
to  find  my  hatchet  for  weeks." 

Gudrid  consented  to  smile.  "  I  took  for  granted 
it  was  there.  Then  I  will  certainly  leave  him,  for 
I  should  like  him  to  be  outdoors  some  while 

139 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

longer.  I  will  send  a  thrall — a  man-thrall — to 
fetch  him." 

But  it  came  about  that  small  Snorri  Thorfinns- 
son  was  returned  to  his  mother  by  no  such  humble 
individual.  With  the  shortening  of  the  light  and 
the  lengthening  of  the  shadows,  Karlsefne  the 
Lawman  came  through  the  wood  on  his  way  camp- 
ward  from  a  day's  outing.  Coming  out  in  the  open 
where  a  dozen  Champions  were  fencing  with  a 
mighty  clash  and  clatter,  he  would  have  apologized 
for  the  intrusion  and  kept  on  his  way ;  but  reach- 
ing the  tree  before  which  the  red-cloaked  chief 
sprawled  on  a  great  rug,  drawling  comment,  he 
heard  from  the  rabbit-skin  bundle  at  the  chief's 
side  a  squeal  of  laughter  which  brought  him  to 
a  standstill. 

"  What  have  we  here?  "  he  asked  in  surprise. 

Rising  to  greet  him,  Alrek  looked  down  at  the 
bundle  with  a  laugh.  "  It  is  likely  that  your  son 
is  going  to  make  a  Berserker,  Karlsefne,"  he 
answered.  "  The  more  noise  the  swords  make,  the 
louder  he  laughs." 

The  smile  dawning  on  the  Lawman's  lips  faded 
as  his  glance  passed  from  the  rabbit-skin  bundle 
140 


FEEL    THEIR    IMPORTANCE 

to  the  rug  on  which  it  lay.  After  a  little  he  said 
gravely :  "  This  is  an  unusually  fine  bearskin 
which  you  have,  my  young  kinsman.  I  want  to 
ask  if  it  is  the  one  the  Skraellings  brought,  on  that 
last  trading  day  of  which  so  much  has  been  told?  " 

It  was  so  plain  that  the  same  misgiving  was 
in  his  mind  which  had  first  risen  to  Alrek's,  that 
the  Sword-Bearer  breathed  a  prayer  of  thankful- 
ness that  he  had  lost  no  time  in  making  sure  of 
Gard's  good  faith.  He  replied  readily :  "  It  is 
the  same  one,  Karlsefne.  One  of  my  men  had  such 
luck  in  trading  that  he  bought  it  when  the  price 
was  lower  than  it  had  been." 

"  Nevertheless,  I  should  like  much  to  know 
what  he  paid  for  it,"  said  the  Lawman. 

"  Willingly,"  answered  Alrek  the  Chief.  "  He 
paid  a  large  piece  of  the  red  cloth  which  we  had 
been  trading  with,  and  a  ring  with  a  red  stone. 
The  Skraelling  liked  the  ring  so  well  that  he  put 
it  on  as  soon  as  he  bought  it." 

The  Lawman's  gaze  became  less  unswervingly 
direct;  presently  its  sharpness  was  softened  by  a 
twinkle.  "  Now  if  all  the  Northmen  of  the  new 
lands  continue  to  show  such  merchant  talent,  Vin- 

141 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

land  will  soon  be  as  great  a  trading  place  as  Ice- 
land," he  laughed. 

Then,  as  if  to  remove  any  lingering  doubt  of 
his  friendliness,  he  added  that  their  taste  in  select- 
ing a  practising  place  was  excellent;  and  that  it 
appeared  that  they  were  doing  good  work  in  it; 
and  that,  if  they  would  allow  it,  he  should  be  glad 
to  remain  a  while  and  look  on.  When  permission 
had  been  graciously  accorded,  he  sat  down  on  the 
rug  between  the  chief  and  the  rabbit-skin  bundle 
and  showed  himself  the  most  inspiring  audience 
the  band  had  ever  performed  before. 

Under  the  stimulus  of  his  applause,  Njal  the 
Jumper  achieved  a  mark  a  finger's  length  higher 
than  any  he  had  made  before;  while  Brand  the 
Wrestler  felt  such  power  swell  in  his  great  limbs 
that  for  a  time  he  seriously  considered  the  idea  of 
challenging  Karlsefne  himself.  Later,  he  was 
glad  that  he  had  not,  for  when  they  stopped  to 
rest  and  came  and  stood  around  the  bearskin,  Karl- 
sefne borrowed  Alrek's  dwarf -made  sword  and  rose 
up,  towering  and  sinewy  and  straight  as  a  pine, 
and  showed  them  some  feats  that  he  had  learned 
in  the  East, — the  real  East  where  the  sun  is  so  hot 
142 


FEEL    THEIR    IMPORTANCE 

that  all  people  are  as  brown  as  roasted  fowls, 
and  the  rich  eat  snow  for  a  luxury.  Baring  a 
knotted  arm  as  lean  as  a  spear-shaft,  he  did  things 
that  furnished  them  fireside  gossip  for  the  rest  of 
the  cold  weather. 

When  at  last  he  had  set  the  Frowner  on  his 
shoulder,  and  he  and  the  Champions  had  parted  in 
a  glow  of  good-fellowship,  Erlend  said  warmly : 

"  Biorn  Gudbrandsson  is  an  open-handed  chief, 
and  Snorri  of  Iceland  is  shrewder  than  most  men ; 
but  the  one  surpassing  others  in  high-mindedness 
and  knowing  everything  is  Thorfinn  Karlsefne. 
I  think  it  an  honor  to  our  feast  that  he  has  con- 
sented to  come  to  it." 


143 


CHAPTER    XIII 

GIVING    THE    REASON    WHY    THE    SKRAELLJNGS    FLED 

IT  happened,  however,  that  Thorfinn  Karlsefne 
did  not  get  back  from  his  spring  exploring  trip 
in  time  for  the  games.  Inspecting  all  the  self-sown 
wheat-fields  and  natural  vineyards  in  the  vicinity, 
he  had  been  gone  a  week;  and  the  light  of  the 
momentous  day  had  faded  into  twilight  and  the 
dusk  in  its  turn  had  melted  into  moonlight,  silver- 
ing the  forest  like  a  frost,  before  he  came  through 
it  with  his  men. 

Meeting  a  ray  of  light  from  the  last  booth  in 
the  line  and  catching  from  the  same  source  a  faint 
note  of  revelry,  he  spoke  smilingly  to  his  partner, 
Snorri  of  Iceland :  "  I  recollect  now  that  we  have 
missed  great  happenings.  It  is  likely  that  if  the 
light  were  good  enough  we  should  find  heads  and 
limbs  strewed  like  pebbles  over  the  plain." 

"  What  witches'  stuff  this  moonlight  is ! " 
Snorri  laughed  in  return.  "  As  you  spoke,  it  al- 
144 


WHY    THE    SKRAELLINGS    FLED 

most  seemed  to  me  as  if  I  saw  an  arm  down  there." 
He  nodded  his  head  toward  the  ravine  along  whose 
brink  they  were  walking;  and  old  Grimkel,  behind 
him,  followed  the  motion  with  his  one  eye  and 
grunted : 

"  I  see  what  you  mean, — yonder  where  the 
moon  strikes.  It  has  the  look  of  an  arm." 

Still  moving  forward,  Karlsefne  also  glanced 
down  into  the  black  pool  of  shadow.  From  the  dark 
slope,  something  like  a  snag  stood  out  so  that  the 
moonlight  caught  it  and  gave  it  a  weird  resem- 
blance to  a  human  hand  with  fingers  wide-spread 
in  the  air.  Looking  down  at  it,  he  came  slowly 
to  a  standstill.  Presently,  while  the  chat  behind 
him  ceased  in  surprise,  he  grasped  a  wiry  bush  on 
the  brink  and  let  himself  over  the  edge  until  he 
could  touch  with  his  staff  the  dark  mass  from 
which  the  snag  stood  out.  Using  the  staff  like  a 
pitchfork,  he  flung  off  the  layers  of  sodden  pine 
branches  heaped  there  and  bent  to  look  again. 
Then  he  saw  that  the  reason  it  looked  like  an  arm 
was  because  an  arm  was  what  it  was,  lean  and 
brown,  outflung  from  a  stark  body  lying  face 
downward  in  the  brush. 

145 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

Those  waiting  above  heard  his  voice  rise  awfully 
from  the  shadow :  "  It  is  a  Skraelling  who  has  been 
murdered !  Fetch  torches !  " 

Waiting  for  the  lights  to  be  brought,  the 
men  stood  looking  dumbly  at  one  another  and 
at  the  snag-like  arm,  in  every  mind  the  same 
thought.  Once  Karlsefne's  deep  tones  inter- 
preted their  silence,  telling  heavily  through  the 
darkness : 

"  I  do  not  know  who  has  done  this  deed,  but  I 
know  that  in  slaying  this  one  man  he  has  taken 
the  lives  of  more  men  than  tongue  can  number. 
If  ever  the  Skraellings  come  again  it  will  be  to  make 
warfare,  and  to  save  our  lives  we  shall  be  forced 
to  take  more  of  theirs ;  and  so  it  will  go  on  through 
ages  yet  unborn,  until  a  white  face — which  I  had 
striven  to  make  a  sign  of  friendliness — will  become 
to  the  wild  men  a  token  of  bloodshed."  A  moment 
his  voice  rang  out  in  terrible  wrath :  "  Behold  how 
the  heedlessness  of  one  man  can  overthrow  the 
wisdom  of  a  hundred !  " 

Daring  no  answer,  they  awaited  in  silence  the 
arrival  of  the  torches.  But  when  at  last  the  lights 
had  been  brought  and  handed  down,  and  they 
146 


WHY    THE    SKRAELLINGS    FLED 

had  descended  after  them,  at  least  four  spoke  at 
once: 

"  It  is  the  Skraelling  who  offered  the  bear's 
hide !  " 

"  By  Odin,"  cried  a  fifth,  "  I  saw  him  walking 
in  this  direction  shortly  before  the  time  of  the 
scream!  He  must  have  fallen  over  the  bank  and 
lain  all  this  while  under  the  snow  that  was  coming 
down." 

"  What  has  become  of  the  hide,  however?  "  pon- 
dered Hjalmar  Thick-Skull,  before  memory  re- 
called to  him  whose  booth  the  great  skin  was  even 
now  gracing  as  its  chiefest  treasure. 

"  It  must  be  that  they  bought  it  just  before 
he  was  slain,"  Grimkel  struck  in  hastily. 

But  the  Lawman  took  the  torch  from  him 
and  held  it  to  each  brown  hand  in  turn.  "  No 
ring  with  a  red  stone  is  on  any  of  the  fingers,"  he 
said. 

Immediately  after,  Hjalmar,  holding  the  other 
torch,  uttered  an  exclamation :  "  Here  is  what  slew 
him !  "  and  they  all  crowded  forward  to  look, — and 
looking,  stood  dumfounded. 

The  Thick-Skulled  said  wonderingly :  "  Now  I 
147 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

have  several  times  heard  it  said  that  men  believe 
Brand  the  Red  gave  the  Skraelling  a  weapon  for 
the  skin,  but  no  man  guessed  that  a  weapon  had 
been  given  in  this  way." 


148 


CHAPTER    XIV 

SHOWING    HOW    DISGRACE    CAME    UPON    ALREK 
THE    CHIEF 

IT  was  as  though  all  the  troubles  of  Vinland 
were  gathered  around  that  dark  heap  in  the  ravine, 
and  all  the  pleasures  were  gathered  around  the 
Champions'  hospitable  fire.  Built  of  juniper 
fagots  whose  sweetness  blended  with  the  fragrance 
of  the  pine  branches  carpeting  the  floor,  it  filled 
the  air  with  the  spicy  aroma  of  Yule-tide;  and 
Yule-tide  cheer  was  on  the  long  tables  on  either 
side  the  hearth,  and  Yule-tide  mirth  was  on  the 
faces  above  the  board.  Every  leap  of  the  flames 
revealed  some  new  treasure  of  claw  or  hide  or 
antler;  and  at  each  admiring  tribute  from  their 
guests  the  Champions'  hearts  swelled  with  pride, 
so  that  they  were  obliged  to  relieve  the  pressure  by 
echoing  at  the  top  of  their  lungs  the  song  Rane 
was  singing  to  chords  from  a  home-made  harp.  The 
only  flaw  in  their  content  was  that  Karlsefne  was 
149 


THE    VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

not  there  to  see  their  glory.  When  an  uproar 
among  the  dogs  outside  announced  the  arrival  of 
a  guest,  they  left  everything  to  fix  eager  eyes  on 
the  opening  door. 

The  form  that  strode  in  out  of  the  moonlight 
was  Karlsefne's,  followed  by  Snorri  of  Iceland, 
but  the  breath  they  had  thought  to  spend  in  cheers 
went  oat  in  gasps  as  the  dancing  firelight  showed 
his  face.  Stopping  just  within  the  threshold,  he 
stood  gripping  his  silver-shod  staff  in  both  hands 
before  him,  like  a  bar  in  the  way  of  his  wrath. 

From  the  high-seat,  the  young  chief  saluted 
him  with  troubled  mien :  "  We  bid  you  welcome, 
Karlsefne,  and  take  it  as  an  honor  that  you  have 
come.  I  hope  your  journey  has  been  according 
to  your  pleasure,  and  that  nothing  has  happened 
which  you  dislike  ?  "  He  made  a  sign  that  Erlend, 
in  his  feasting  clothes  of  blue-and-silver,  should 
act  as  master  of  ceremonies  and  conduct  the  dis- 
tinguished guest  to  the  seat  prepared  for  him. 

The  Lawman  did  not  appear  to  heed  the  invita- 
tion. "  I  give  you  thanks  for  your  greeting,"  he 
said,  "  but  I  will  not  conceal  it  from  you  that  some- 
thing has  happened.  Before  this  feast  goes  any 
150 


DISGRACE    CAME    UPON    ALREK 

further,    I   want  to   put  some  questions   to  your 
men." 

From  some  instinctive  foreboding,  Alrek 
glanced  hastily  across  at  Gard.  Finding  the  Ugly 
One's  dark  face  as  lowering  as  a  storm  cloud, 
while  Brand's  beside  him  was  aflash  with  excite- 
ment, the  trouble  in  the  young  chief's  eyes  deep- 
ened. Yet  he  answered  steadily :  "  You  are  over- 
chief  in  Vinland,  Karlsefne,  and  must  have  your 
way  about  everything.  Yet  will  you  not  first  take 
the  seat  of  honor — 

"  I  will  accept  no  hospitality  here  until  this 
matter  is  cleared,"  the  Lawman  grimly  cut  him 
short ;  then  turned  upon  the  Ugly  One.  "  I  want 
to  ask  Gard  Eldirsson  what  he  paid  the  Skraelling 
for  the  skin  yonder  on  the  high-seat?  " 

As  he  had  given  it  each  time  before,  Gard 
muttered  his  answer,  without  looking  up :  "I  gave 
him  a  piece  of  red  cloth  and  a  ring  with  a  red  stone 
in  it.  He  liked  so  well  to  get  the  ring  that  he 
put  it  on  his  finger  as  soon  as  he  got  it." 

Crack !  the  staff  Karlsefne  was  gripping  broke 
under  the  strain ;  it  seemed  that  his  voice  also  must 
break  from  his  control.     "  It  was  not  seen  that  he 
11  151 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

wore  it  to-day,"  he  was  beginning;  when  Brand 
arose,  pushing  back  his  goblet  and  bowl  with  a 
loud  clatter. 

"  If  what  you  mean  is  that  you  have  met  that 
Skraelling  and  seen  a  knife  in  his  belt  instead  of 
a  ring  on  his  hand,"  he  said,  "  I  will  spare  you 
the  trouble  of  asking  further  by  declaring  that  I 
traded  it  to  him  myself.  Gard  lies  when  he  says 
that  he  bought  the  skin.  It  happened  that  from 
behind  a  tree  he  saw  me  give  the  weapon ;  and  be- 
cause he  expected  that  Alrek  would  slay  me  for 
daring  it,  he  sought  to  save  trouble  by  making 
up  the  ring-story  before  I  got  a  good  chance  to 
tell  what  I  had  done.  I  gave  him  no  thanks  for  it, 
as  I  do  not  lack  the  boldness  to  stand  behind  any 
deed  I  do.  I  held  my  tongue  only  because  I  could 
not  speak  without  bringing  him  into  trouble.  Now 
I  will  hold  it  no  longer,  and  you  may  do  what  you 
like  when  my  chief  is  through  with  me."  He 
flashed  his  leader  his  glance  of  affectionate  inso- 
lence, and  grinned  at  the  look  he  got  in  return. 
But  before  Alrek  could  answer,  Karlsefne  spoke: 

"  You  would  have  me  believe  that  your  chief 
does  not  know  of  this  matter?  " 
152 


DISGRACE    CAME    UPON    ALREK 


The  Red  One  tossed  his  long  locks  with  a 
flourish  which  suggested  that  he  was  enjoying  the 
excitement  of  the  moment.  "  No  more  than  the 
bench  before  you,"  he  answered.  "  He  himself  had 
started  out  to  make  an  offer  for  the  skin,  but  he 
slipped  on  the  ice  and  muddled  his  wits  so  that  he 
did  not  even  hear  the  yell  or  know  how  he  got 
into  the  booth,  until  he  found  himself  there  with  the 
fur  before  him 

"  Was  it  you  who  brought  the  fur  into  the 
booth?  "  Karlsefne  interrupted  him. 

But  Gard  took  the  answer  out  of  Brand's 
mouth :  "  No,  it  was  I  who  did  that.  When  the 
wild  men  began  yelling  and  running,  I  saw  Brand 
drop  the  skin  and  run  after  them ;  and  I  picked  it 
up  and  brought  it  into  the  booth  before  I  followed 
him.  When  I  came  back,  Alrek  was  sitting  there 
and  asked  me  where  he  had  been."  He  turned 
toward  the  high-seat  as  though  he  would  address 
a  word  of  apology  to  him  who  sat  there,  but  the 
pause  was  shattered  by  an  unpleasant  laugh  from 
Snorri  of  Iceland. 

"  I  call  Loke  as  witness,"  he  ejaculated,  "  that 
though  I  have  dealt  with  men  in  France  and  men 

153 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

in  England  and  all  that  are  nearer  than  those,  I 
have  never  seen  given  such  a  running-over  measure 
of  lies!" 

"  They  are  like  saplings  drifted  ashore  that 
one  picks  up  for  their  good  shape  and  finds  to  be 
worm-eaten,"  Karlsef ne  responded ;  and  the  vio- 
lence of  the  anger  he  was  holding  back  shook  his 
towering  frame  and  vibrated  through  his  deep 
voice.  "  Yet  should  it  be  kept  in  mind  that  these 
two  lied  in  order  to  assist  a  comrade.  Only  Alrek 
Ingolfsson  lied  for  himself." 

In  his  place  Alrek  the  Chief  arose,  his  lips 
forming  a  question;  but  Karlsef  ne  stayed  it  with 
uplifted  hand. 

"  I  will  make  it  plain  that  I  do  not  wish  to 
tempt  you  to  further  falsehood.  I  tell  you  openly 
that  I  know  you  to  be  the  man  who  slew  the  Skrael- 
ling " 

"  Slew  ?  "  repeated  Alrek  Sword-Bearer. 

And  "  Slew !  "  cried  the  chorus  of  Champions ; 
then  divided  into  scattered  cries :  "  It  was  his 
death-yell—  "  They  took  it  as  a  warning —  " 
"  The  next  time  they  come,  it  will  be  in  war- 
clothes." 

154 


DISGRACE    CAME    UPON    ALREK 

Hearing  this  last,  Brand  hammered  the  table 
with  his  fist.  "  Now  I  know  who  killed  him !  "  he 
cried  joyfully.  "  It  was  Thorhall  the  Huntsman! 
More  than  anything  else  he  wanted  to  break  off 
trade  with  the  Skraellings  and  stir  the  camp  to 
discontent — 

"  Now  your  tongue  goes  faster  than  your 
mind,"  the  Iceland  chief  interrupted  him.  "  That 
trading  day  the  Huntsman  spent  with  me,  setting 
traps  in  the  wood  far  north  of  here." 

Brand  shot  his  arrows  desperately :  "  Then  it 
was  Ale  the  Greedy  !  Or  Fat  Paste !  " 

But  from  the  quarter  where  the  Greenland 
guests  sat,  rose  resentful  cries :  "  Faste  was  off 
all  day  fishing  with  me —  "  "  I  myself  saw  Ale 
in  the  group  before  the  Lawman's  door !  "  "  You 
take  too  much  upon  yourself !  "  "  Remember  that 
the  spoils  were  found  in  your  booth !  " 

The  Red  One  stood  with  empty  quiver.  And 
Gard  left  his  place  and  went  and  laid  clumsy  hands 
upon  the  Lawman's  cloak. 

"  I  swear  that  it  was  not  Alrck  but  I  who 
brought  the  skin  into  the  booth.  I  take  oath  that 
I  am  telling  the  truth  this  time,"  he  said. 

155 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

"  This  time ! "  the  Lawman  repeated,  so  that 
the  blood  was  rasped  into  Gard's  swarthy  face. 

"  Nay,  it  was  to  help  Brand  that  I  lied  before," 
he  pleaded. 

"  And  this  time  it  is  to  help  Alrek !  "  Karlsefne 
finished.  "  Learn,  boy,  once  and  for  all,  that  you 
can  not  spend  your  wealth  and  have  it  also  in  your 
pouch.  Learn  now  and  forever  that  your  word 
buys  nothing  when  the  pouch  of  your  honor  is 
empty."  Casting  him  off  as  he  would  have  spoken 
further,  he  turned  upon  the  red-cloaked  figure  of 
the  Sword-Bearer,  standing  rigidly  erect  before 
the  high-seat.  "  Too  long,  Alrek  Ingolfsson,  have 
you  hidden  behind  this  shield;  show  now  the  bold- 
ness which  should  be  in  your  blood.  That  you  lied 
because  you  wished  to  keep  my  good  opinion,  I 
can  guess.  That  you  fell  not  upon  the  Skraelling 
treacherously  nor  yet  in  greed  of  his  property,  I 
do  you  the  justice  to  believe.  It  may  even  be  that 
he  gave  provocation  to  your  mad  temper  by  seizing 
your  weapon.  I  expect  that  you  will  acknowledge 
yourself  guilty  and  submit  to  me." 

Their    glances    clashed    like    blades    as    Alrek 
turned  his  high-borne  head. 
156 


DISGRACE    CAME    UPON    ALREK 

"  You  can  decide  over  my  life,  but  I  will  never 
acknowledge  that,"  he  said.  "  May  the  gallows 
take  my  body  if  I  knew  aught  of  the  happening 
until  your  own  lips  told  of  it.  I  say,  moreover, 
that  it  is  unjustly  done  to  accuse  me  of  it  only 
because  others  have  juggled  with  the  truth  and 
because  it  looks  as  though  mine  were  the  hand 
which  had  brought  the  spoils  hither." 

That,  at  least,  did  not  lack  boldness.  Flinging 
the  broken  staff  from  him,  Karlsefne  made  a  stride 
forward;  the  veins  of  his  forehead  swelled  out 
white  against  purple.  "  This  case  has  not  yet 
been  fully  tried,"  he  said.  "  I  have  not  told  that 
those  are  my  only  reasons.  Another  proof  is  this, 
which  my  own  hand  took  from  the  Skraelling's 
head  into  which  it  had  bitten  so  deeply  that  not 
even  his  fall  down  the  bank  had  dislodged  it." 
From  his  belt,  where  his  cloak  had  hidden  it,  he 
drew  forth  the  stone  hatchet,  discolored  with  dark 
stains. 

To  Alrek  of  Norway  it  was  like  a  trick  of 
magic;  his  jaw  fell  and  he  recoiled  against  the 
high-seat.  "  My  hatchet !  "  he  breathed. 

Then  the  sheeted  lightning  of  Karlsefne's  eyes 
157 


THE    VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

was  loosed  upon  him.  "  Tempt  me  with  no  more 
defiance  lest  I  forget  that  I  am  a  Lawman  and 
strike  you  dead  where  you  stand !  Recollect  that 
I  also  am  of  Viking  stock,  and  tempt  me  not !  Come 
down  from  the  seat  in  which  you  were  never  worthy 
to  sit;  put  off  the  cloak  whose  soldierliness  you 
have  disgraced;  unbuckle  the  sword  you  can  not 
be  trusted  to  wear." 

It  was  as  though  the  Viking  blood  in  Ingolf's 
son  were  a  tiger  that  had  been  wakened  by  a  blow. 
Straightening  with  a  terrible  inarticulate  cry,  he 
leaped  to  the  floor  and  over  the  fire,  his  sword 
gleaming  in  his  hand  before  they  knew  he  had 
drawn  it. 

But  the  Lawman's  might-full  figure  neither 
gave  back  nor  moved ;  the  blaze*  of  his  eyes  neither 
weakened  nor  swerved.  Tiger-like,  the  boy's  eyes 
wavered  and  fell  aside;  he  halted,  uncertain. 

Karlsefne's  voice  was  as  the  voice  of  thunder: 
"  I  am  over-chief  in  Vinland." 

The  flesh  defied,  but  the  soldier-drilled  spirit 
heard.  Slowly,  Alrek  put  up  hands  that  shook 
from  passion  and  unfastened  the  clasp  on  his 
158 


DISGRACE    CAME    UPON    ALREK 

shoulder.  With  a  soft  sound  the  drapery  fell  and 
lay  like  a  blood-pool  around  his  feet.  Slowly  and 
yet  more  slowly,  he  changed  his  hold  upon  his 
weapon  and  extended  it  as  it  had  never  gone  before 
—hilt  forward. 

Receiving  it,  the  Lawman  finished  the  sentence 
amid  deathlike  stillness :  "  Hereafter,  wear  no 
color  of  soldiers,  nor  carry  any  more  weapons  than 
the  beasts  whose  uncontrol  you  show.  You, 
Champions  of  Vinland,  get  you  another  chief." 
Signing  to  Snorri  to  open  the  door  he  left  the 
booth,  the  Icelander  following. 

Spellbound,  the  revelers  remained  without  sound 
or  motion,  until  Brand  flung  himself  at  the  feet 
of  IngolPs  son,  thrusting  into  the  brown  hand  one 
of  his  own  knives. 

"  You  foretold  that  you  should  kill  me  some 
time,"  he  whispered,  and  bared  his  breast  for  the 
blow. 

Those  who  saw  the  eyes  the  Viking  bent  upon 
him,  believed  that  he  would  do  it ;  it  was  seen  that 
his  fingers  closed  upon  the  haft.  Then  suddenly 
they  thrust  it  from  him  with  such  force  that  its 
owner  was  thrown  backward. 

159 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

"  Keep  away,"  he  said  hoarsely.  "  Keep 
away ! "  With  hands  flung  out  to  keep  them  off, 
he  walked  past  them;  and  the  door  opened  upon 
him  and  the  night  swallowed  him  up. 


160 


CHAPTER    XV 

ABOUT     THE-FIRE-THAT-RUXS-ON-THE-WAVES 

WHERE  an  arm  of  the  big  Vinland  bay  met  a 
narrow  river  so  far  inland  that  it  was  hard  to  tell 
when  bay  ended  and  river  began,  the  band  of  Vin- 
land Champions  was  at  work.  Before  the  invasion 
of  their  young  voices,  the  stillness  of  the  primeval 
forest  had  taken  flight ;  and  the  age-old  trees  had 
fallen  victim  to  the  greed  of  their  young  hands 
even  as  the  old-world  cities  were  falling  before 
the  might  of  the  young  North.  On  the  river  bank, 
sweating  in  the  June  sun,  some  of  them  were 
toiling  to  bring  a  great  log  down  to  the  stream 
which  was  to  float  it  on  to  the  building  place. 
Along  the  edge  of  the  clearing,  others  were  busy 
lopping  from  the  fallen  monarchs  their  green 
crowns.  And  the  song  of  axes,  ringing  from  the 
depths  of  the  cool  shade,  told  of  conquests  still  in 
progress.  This  last  task,  however,  was  so  nearly 
completed  that  in  the  intervals  of  their  work  the 

163 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

choppers  talked  of  the  untrimmed  logs  as  though 
they  were  already  in  the  form  of  a  ship. 

"  What  we  stand  in  need  of  is  red  paint  for 
that  hull—"  "If  Gudrid  will  only  make  the 
sail —  "  — so  long  as  we  get  gilding  for  the 
dragon's  head,  I  do  not  care —  "  The  dragon's 
head  will  be  a  weapon  in  itself !  "  "I  expect  the 
wild  men  will  run  at  sight  of  it !  "  "  There  will  not 
be  many  to  equal  this  ship  when  it  is  done." 

Lowering  his  ax  to  moisten  his  palms,  Brand 
cast  his  bright  impatient  eyes  around  severely. 
"  If  ever  it  is  done,"  he  supplemented.  "  At  this 
rate,  it  is  the  summer  which  will  be  finished  first. 
If  we  had  worked  as  we  should  have  done,  it  would 
be  completed  now." 

"  Then  why  did  you  not  work  as  you  should 
have  done?  "  laughed  Ketil  the  Glib." 

And  Erlend,  pausing  to  take  a  gauzy  fanged 
fly  off  his  neck,  observed :  "  Certainly  I  think  you 
ought  to  be  the  last  one  to  make  a  fuss.  Every 
time  I  have  told  you  off  to  work  on  it,  you  have 
preferred  to  go  hunting,  or  even  help  Karlsefne's 
men  with  the  fence." 

"  What  difference  what  I  prefer  ?  "  the  Red 
164 


ABOUT    "THE-FIRE" 


One  retorted.     "  You  are  the  chief ;  it  is  your  duty 
to  see  that  work  is  done  as  it  is  necessary." 

The  difficulty  of  answering  that,  left  Erlend 
rubbing  his  plump  neck  in  silence ;  and  in  the  pause 
Brand  returned  to  work,  swinging  the  ax  over  his 
shoulder  with  a  forcefulness  which  brought  it  near 
to  smashing  the  head  of  a  man  who  had  just 
appeared  in  the  underbrush  behind  him. 

"  It  is  my  advice  that  you  see  what  you  are 
doing,"  the  man  spoke  in  a  harsh  voice  which  they 
recognized. 

It  was  but  faintly  that  Brand  was  apologetic 
as  he  glanced  around.  "  Why  do  you  creep  up  like 
a  cat  if  you  are  not  willing  to  risk  something?  " 
he  inquired,  and  aimed  another  stroke. 

But  for  once  Thorhall  the  Huntsman  did  not 
dismiss  them  in  contempt.  Breast-high  in  saplings 
he  lingered,  regarding  them  with  curiosity;  when 
he  had  swallowed  the  irritation  attendant  upon 
dodging,  he  spoke  politely :  "  My  excuse  is  that 
if  the  leaves  had  not  muffled  my  steps,  I  should 
have  missed  hearing  tidings  of  great  interest.  I 
ask  of  you  to  tell  me  what  all  this  is  about  a 
ship?" 

165 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

"  How  does  that  concern  you?  "  muttered  Gard 
the  Ugly. 

Erlend,  however,  lowered  his  ax  readily.  That 
there  should  be  any  one  willing  to  listen  to  the  ship- 
plan  who  had  not  already  heard  it  as  many  times 
as  he  would  endure,  seemed  too  good  for  belief. 
Feigning  that  his  ax  edge  needed  attention,  he 
drew  out  a  sharpening-stone ;  and  while  he  plied 
it,  he  talked  happily. 

The  ship,  he  said,  was  to  be  so  long  and  so 
wide,  with  a  fore-deck  to  shelter  the  provisions,  but 
nothing  so  womanish  as  a  cabin.  The  mast  was  to 
be  that  pine-tree  yonder,  and  the  sail  was  to  be 
woven  by  Gudrid,  Karlsefne's  wife — that  is,  they 
were  going  to  ask  her  to  do  it  for  them — and  he 
thought  the  colors  would  be  red  and  yellow,  and 
the  name  would  probably  be  The-Fire-That-Runs- 
On-The- Waves.  It  sounded  very  well  as  he  told 
it ;  gradually  Brand's  blade  also  became  silent,  and 
Ketil  and  Harald  and  half  a  dozen  others  crept 
nearer  to  listen  with  kindling  eyes  that  now  and 
again  shot  triumphant  glances  at  the  Huntsman. 

It  was  something  of  a  triumph  to  make  him 
who  was  usually  so  sneering  listen  so  respectfully. 
166 


ABOUT    "THE-FIRE" 


When  the  recital  was  finished,  he  was  even  flat- 
tering. 

"  Certainly  you  are  foremost  among  youths  in 
energy !  Where  is  it  your  intention  to  voyage 
when  The  Fire  is  built?" 

Gard,  who  alone  had  kept  on  working,  gave 
his  tree  a  resounding  blow.  "  How  does  that  con- 
cern you?  "  he  demanded  a  second  time.  "  You  will 
not  be  invited  to  take  the  steering  oar." 

Now  any  one  can  see  that  it  is  bad  manners  to 
insult  a  man  who  is  complimenting  you.  Eight 
glances  fixed  the  Ugly  One  angrily,  while  Erlend 
spoke  in  mild  reproof: 

"  What  is  the  need  of  talking  in  that  way  ?  " 
he  asked  him ;  then,  to  the  Huntsman :  "  If  the 
ship  is  done  before  the  summer  is,  we  are  going 
against  the  Skraellings.  It  comes  like  a  piece  of 
luck  that  there  is  enmity  between  us;  otherwise 
I  do  not  know  whom  we  could  fight." 

"  Since  it  is  unadvisable  to  do  what  we  want 
and  fight  Karlsefne,"  Brand  added  vindictively; 
and  there  was  a  murmur  of  acquiescence. 

The  Huntsman's  eyes,  trained  to  detect  prey  in 
the  very  darkness,  went  from  one  to  another  of  the 
12  167 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

young  faces.  "  Now  that  is  a  strange  way  to 
speak  of  the  Lawman,"  he  remarked. 

The  answers  rose  in  his  face  like  a  covey  of 
birds :  "  How  else  would  you  expect  us  to  speak  ?  " 
"  — after  the  way  he  behaved  toward  Alrek  Ingolfs- 
son —  "  I  think  he  deserves  worse  words —  " 
"  To  my  backbone  I  hate  him !  " 

Parting  the  sapling  screen,  the  Huntsman  came 
out  and  seated  himself  on  a  prostrate  tree,  as 
though  he  found  the  field  worthy  of  his  attention. 
"  Yet  it  is  a  foolish  way  after  all,"  he  began,  "  for 
only  see  how  Alrek's  bane  has  been  Erlend's  good 
fortune " 

The  Amiable  One's  handsome  brown  face 
flushed.  "  We  have  given  no  thanks  on  that  score, 
nor  shall  give  any,"  he  answered  hastily.  "  I  have 
seen  Alrek  only  once  since  the  day  that  bad  luck 
overtook  him,  and  then  I  dared  not  speak  to  him; 
but  the  first  chance  I  get,  I  shall  offer  the  chief- 
ship  back." 

The  murmur  which  greeted  that  was  almost  a 
cheer ;  only  Thorall  made  a  sound  of  dissent. 

"  Now  do  you  act  after  the  manner  of  boys 
rather  than  of  men,"  he  said.  "  Pity  Alrek  Ingolfs- 
168 


ABOUT    "THE-FIRE 


son  you  may  if  you  will,  but  in  so  doing  you 
should  not  undervalue  the  leader  you  have  got  in 
his " 

"  Now  what  trap  are  you  baiting  ?  "  grumbled 
Gard,  at  the  same  instant  that  Erlend  interrupted. 

"  I  beg  of  you  to  leave  that  and  give  us  instead 
your  advice  how  the  Skraellings  may  be  found. 
You,  more  than  any  other,  know  the  secrets  of  the 
south  country." 

Some  of  the  band  drew  breath  rather  quickly 
as  their  chief  said  that,  and  looked  to  see  the 
Huntsman  rise  in  offense;  but  again  he  surprised 
them.  Re-crossing  his  legs  and  settling  his  broad 
back  against  a  stump,  he  did  nothing  worse  than  to 
sit  gazing  away  at  the  sunshine  of  the  open.  His 
voice  was  still  amiable  when  at  last  he  spoke : 

"  It  would  be  useless  to  deny  that  many  won- 
ders may  be  told  of  the  south  country.  I  will  begin 
by  telling  you  that  it  contains  bigger  game  than 
Skraellings  and —  "  his  hand  strayed  to  the  deer- 
skin cord  looping  his  neck  and  ending  in  the  breast 
of  his  stained  green  tunic — "  and  more  valuable 
things  than  furs."  He  paused  to  cough,  and  no 
one  moved  for  fear  of  breaking  the  spell.  He 

169 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

recovered  himself  with  a  covert  smile.  "  It  may  be 
that  I  will  even  do  better  than  telling  you.  What 
should  you  say  if  I  would  show  you  the  paths  that 
lead  to  the  treasure  ?  I  have  some  thought  of  going 
south  myself  this  summer — 

Gard  answered  with  an  unexpectedness  that 
made  them  jump:  "I  should  say  that  we  were 
rabbit-brained  if  we  allowed  you  to  lead  us  any- 
where !  Because  Erlend  is  caught  with  your  chaff, 
it  is  not  proved  that  you  can  trap  us  all.  I  would 
not  follow  you  a  pace.  To  your  face  I  tell  you 
that  I  believe  it  was  your  hand  that  slew  the 
Skraelling,  though  your  body  was  further  off  than 
could  be  seen  by  a  raven  hovering  in  the  sky ! " 
He  broke  off  and  began  making  rune-signs  with 
his  fingers,  as  the  small  eyes  turned  toward  him. 

But  it  was  not  the  Huntsman's  anger  which 
he  had  to  reckon  with,  but  the  resentment  of  those 
who  feared  to  lose  a  tidbit  from  their  watering 
mouths. 

"  Hold  your  tongue !  "    "  You  know  that  is  an 

old  woman's  story —        "  For  what  purpose  should 

you  interfere  ?  "     "  You  are  not  all  of  us !  "  the 

mouths   growled,   while   the    elbows   belonging  to 

170 


ABOUT    "THE-FIRE" 


them  made  themselves  felt  admonishingly  in  his 
ribs. 

Erlend  spoke  with  unprecedented  severity. 
"  You  have  no  right  to  show  enmity  toward  a  man 
who  is  behaving  well  toward  you.  You  may  take 
your  choice  either  to  go  off  by  yourself  or  else  sit 
down  and  keep  quiet  like  the  rest  of  us." 

Nine  times  out  of  ten,  Gard  would  have  sub- 
sided in  sulky  submission ;  but  this  was  the  tenth 
time.  Moving  toward  the  bush  whereon  his  cap 
and  bow  and  quiver  hung  as  on  a  rack,  he  sent  the 
Huntsman  a  glance  of  such  hatred  as  springs  from 
fear. 

"  I  choose  the  best  company,"  he  said ;  and 
gathering  up  his  things,  he  slung  his  ax  over  his 
shoulder  and  slouched  away.  Those  at  work  in  the 
clearing  refrained  from  addressing  him  when  they 
saw  the  expression  of  his  swarthy  face;  and  those 
toiling  on  the  river  bank  agreed  with  polite  alacrity 
when  he  deigned  to  growl  in  passing  that  the  day 
was  unbearably  hot. 

It  was,  moreover,  easier  to  assent  to  that  remark 
than  to  deny  it.  Far  and  near,  blue  water  and 
green  land  were  ablaze  with  sun.  When  the  Ugly 

171 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

One  had  forded  the  river  and  plowed  through 
the  treeless  meadows  where  Karlsefne's  cattle  stood 
knee-deep  in  the  reed-fringed  pools,  his  linen  clothes 
were  wet  on  his  body ;  and  he  gave  up  a  vague  plan 
to  spend  his  unexpected  holiday  in  fishing. 

"  There  will  be  fewer  chances  of  the  juice  dry- 
ing in  my  skull  if  I  go  to  that  wood  place  where 
the  red  berries  grow,"  he  decided,  and  struck 
across  the  grove  toward  the  camp  to  leave  his 
burden  in  the  booth. 

The  camp  was  not  so  easily  entered  as  of  old, 
for  now  there  rose  around  the  twelve  huts  a  fence 
of  mighty  logs  with  sharpened  tops ;  and  at  each  of 
the  three  gates  there  stood  a  man  on  guard.  Yet 
neither  was  the  watch  strict  enough  to  justify  the 
precautions  of  Strong  Domar  who  chanced  to  hold 
this  post.  With  his  joyous  bellow,  he  promptly 
barred  the  passage  with  his  spear  until  the  new- 
comer had  answered  a  catechism  that  began  by 
asking  his  age  and  ended  by  demanding  a  list  of 
the  things  he  had  eaten  for  breakfast.  The  Ugly 
One's  patience  had  run  as  dry  as  the  Strong  One's 
power  of  invention,  by  the  time  he  was  permitted 
to  make  his  exasperated  entrance.  Repulsing  a 
172 


ABOUT    "THE-FIRE" 


pack  of  affectionate  hounds,  he  stamped  across  the 
clover-sprinkled  grass  and  would  have  stamped 
into  the  booth  if  he  had  not  glimpsed  through  the 
open  door  a  figure  that  had  come  to  seem,  almost 
as  much  as  Hallad's,  to  belong  to  another  world, — 
the  gaunt  form  of  Alrek  the  Exile,  rummaging  in 
the  chest  which  had  been  his  treasure-box  in  the 
days  of  his  prosperity  and  still  remained  rever- 
ently untouched.  Evidently  he  had  known  that  at 
this  hour  the  booth  would  be  empty,  for  there  was 
no  watchfulness  in  his  ears;  he  neither  heard  nor 
saw  when  his  comrade  stopped  on  the  threshold 
and  stood  gazing  at  him. 

It  seemed  to  Gard  that  he  had  never  seen  so 
great  a  change  in  any  one.  From  the  unkempt 
brown  hair  to  the  black  cloak  that  hung  about  his 
heels  in  rusty  rags,  he  was  as  different  from  what 
he  had  been  as  November  from  June.  His  face 
showed  the  change  most  of  all,  for  no  glow  of  red 
was  left  in  the  brown,  and  his  eyes  were  like  cinders 
out  of  which  the  fire  had  died.  From  Gard's  throat 
there  burst  suddenly  a  dry  sob;  and  before  the 
Swordless  could  move,  his  one-time  follower  was 
kneeling  before  him,  clutching  at  his  tattered 
cloak. 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

"  Alrek !  Come  back  and  let  me  make  it  up  to 
you.  I  can  not  sleep  at  night  with  thinking  what 
I  brought  upon  you.  I  beg  you  to  come  back !  " 

When  he  had  stood  a  while  looking  down  at 
him,  Alrek  spoke  with  suppressed  scorn :  "  Are  you 
still  trying  to  spend  your  money  and  keep  it  too? 
You  do  not  want  to  bear  the  burden  of  your  deed, 
yet  you  knew  when  you  slew  him  that  some  one 
must  suffer  for  it 

"  I  slay  him  ?  I  did  not !  I  did  not !  I  only 
told  that  lie " 

"  So  that  I  repeated  it  and  became  also  a  liar. 
I  would  not  believe  you  though  you  swore  with 
your  hand  on  the  Boar's  head.  You  tried  to  take 
back  the  weapon  which  Brand  gave,  and  the  Skrael- 
ling  resisted  and  you  struck — with  my  hatchet 
which  you  had  found  where  it  dropped  when  I  fell. 
I  tell  you  I  would  not  believe  you  though  you  took 
oath  on  the  Cross.  Let  go  my  cloak  and  get  away 
from  me.  If  you  had  more  than  a  dog's  wit  you 
would  know  better  than  to  talk  of  making  it  up  to 
me;  you  would  know  that  I  am  disgraced  forever. 
Let  go  my  cloak  before  I  kick  you  away  as  I 
would  a  dog."  Freeing  himself,  he  was  gone. 
174 


ABOUT    "THE-FIRE" 


Gard  reached  the  door  only  in  time  to  see  him  pass 
out  of  the  gate,  Domar  eagerly  saluting ;  then  the 
forest  took  him  again  into  its  silent  keeping. 

Thrusting  his  hands  through  his  belt,  the  Ugly 
One  leaned  against  the  casing  and  spoke  heavily 
to  the  hound  that  had  left  a  noonday  nap  to  come 
and  fawn  upon  him.  "  It  is  likely  that  we  have 
low  minds  as  he  says,  Fafnir.  .  .  .  Yet,  for  all 
he  says,  we  are  faithful.  .  .  .  We  do  not  lay 
it  up  against  a  friend  if  it  happen  that  he  ill-use 
us.  .  .  ."  Seeing  the  bristles  begin  suddenly 
to  rise  along  the  hound's  spine,  he  looked  up  to 
find  Thorhall  the  Huntsman  swinging  past  over 
the  grass.  He  finished  with  a  sound  very  like  the 
one  coming  from  the  dog's  great  throat :  "  And 
both  of  us  can  tell  a  foe  when  we  see  him !  " 


175 


CHAPTER    XVI 

PKOVING   THAT    ALREK*S    EMPTY   HANDS   WERE   FULL 
OF    POWER 

"  A  SAIL  is  not  a  small  thing  to  ask  for," 
Gudrid  observed, — then  raised  a  finger  hastily  as 
Erlend  would  have  pleaded  his  cause.  "  You  will 
put  me  in  the  most  disobliging  temper  if  you  wake 
the  child !  As  far  off  as  the  table  I  heard  him 
crying,  and  came  and  found  that  it  had  happened 
as  I  suspected,  that  Roswitha  had  slipped  out  and 
left  him.  And  he  would  not  be  quieted  unless  I 
got  a  cord  and  looped  it  around  his  feet  and  let 
him  hold  the  ends  and  play  at  driving  horses  while 
he  went  to  sleep  !  "  She  laid  a  hand  on  the  Amiable 
One's  silken  sleeve,  and  another  on  the  arm  of 
Brand  Erlingsson,  and  drew  them  gently  off  the 
dangerous  ground  out  into  the  great  back  door- 
yard  where  the  four  households  of  Vinland  sat  in 
that  contented  idleness  which  follows  the  evening 
meal. 

176 


HANDS    OF   POWER 


Roundabout  the  grassy  space  the  stockade 
rose  in  grim  foreboding;  but  the  three  gates 
opened  wide  upon  shadowy  grove  and  silvered 
meadow,  and  their  three  guards  left  their  posts  at 
will  to  bandy  jests  with  their  comrades  at  the  long 
tables  under  the  trees.  Over  the  juice  of  the  Vin- 
land  grape  the  men  were  lounging  contentedly, 
while  the  cook-fires  sank  into  red  embers,  and  the 
moon  sailed  up  from  the  tree-tops  and  floated  free 
in  the  blue  above  them. 

"  It  is  certainly  a  night  to  bewitch  one  into 
promising  anything !  You  choose  your  time  well," 
Gudrid  said  with  a  little  shake  of  the  sleeves  she 
was  holding. 

Brand  moved  his  arm  away  abruptly;  there 
was  a  limit  to  the  liberties  which  even  one  who 
was  asking  a  favor  could  endure.  Erlend,  how- 
ever, was  always  affable. 

"  That  will  be  seen  if  you  grant  our  request," 
he  answered.  "  It  could  not  take  you  long,  Gud- 
rid, if  you  are  such  a  weaver  as  you  consider  your- 
self. And  I  promise  you  that  you  should  not 
lose  by  it,  for  we  would  bring  you  back  a  fine 
present  from  our  journey.  The  ship  is  well  begun 

177 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

now.  We  delayed  about  the  sail  as  late  as  possible 
in  the  hope  that  Alrek  would  come  back  and  do 
the  asking  for  us.  We  know  that  his  favor  is  no 
less  with  you  because  trouble  has  come  on  his 
hands." 

Gudrid's  face  lost  some  of  its  wonted  sweet 
serenity.  "  Alas,  my  kinsman !  "  she  sighed.  "  I 
wish  my  favor  could  do  something  useful  for  him. 
I  can  tell  you  that  even  the  child  is  full  of  longing 
for  him.  Time  and  again,  when  he  hears  a  step 
that  is  like  Alrek's,  he  turns  his  eyes  toward  the 
door  and  cries  when  it  is  not  his  kinsman  who 
comes  in." 

The  three  walked  a  little  way  in  silence ;  Erlend 
frowning  perplexedly  at  the  ground,  Brand  kick- 
ing the  heads  off  the  clovers  in  the  sullen  discom- 
fort which  this  subject  always  aroused  in  him. 
Presently  Gudrid  came  slowly  to  a  standstill. 

"  I  am  going  yonder  to  speak  with  Jorund, 
Siggeir's  wife,"  she  said.  "  I  do  not  say  that  I 
will  not  do  your  weaving  for  you,  but  I  must  see 
first  how  it  goes  with  my  dairy  work.  In  the 
meanwhile,  I  wish  you  luck  with  your  under- 
taking." 

178 


"  That  is  no  worse  than  a  promise,"  Erlend 
returned  blandly,  "  for  if  you  do  in  truth  wish  us 
luck,  you  will  help  us  all  you  can."  And  they 
departed  from  her  in  high  feather  to  tell  their 
comrades  of  the  boon  granted. 

Standing  where  they  had  left  her,  Gudrid 
pondered  a  while  whether  she  really  would  cross 
the  grass  to  the  spot  where  Jorund  and  the  two 
other  Greenland  women  gossiped  beside  a  door- 
step, or  whether  she  would  go  into  the  booth  where 
Karlsefne  sat  with  his  chiefs  over  a  chart.  There 
was  a  matter  of  cheeses  that  she  particularly  wished 
to  discuss  with  Jorund,  and  yet  it  would  be  inter- 
esting to  hear  whether  the  Lawman  had  seen  any 
trace  of  Skraellings  in  his  trip  that  day.  Con- 
sidering, she  put  a  hand  up  to  finger  her  amber 
necklace,  as  was  her  habit,  and  made  the  discovery 
that  it  was  not  there.  She  took  her  hand  away 
with  a  gesture  of  impatience. 

"  Now  will  Karlsefne  laugh  at  me,  for  he  has 
always  said  that  this  would  happen  if  I  allowed 
Snorri  to  play  with  it !  I  remember  that  it  was  by 
the  river,  where  I  sat  with  him  this  afternoon.  I 
gave  it  to  him  to  bite,  and  then  it  happened  that 
179 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

he  dropped  it  to  reach  out  for  the  boat  which 
Biorn  was  rowing  past;  and  Biorn  called  to  me, 
and  I  forgot  to  pick  it  up  again.  Teh !  What  a 
stupid  business!  It  is  in  my  mind  to  slip  out  and 
get  it  before  any  one  notices  that  it  is  gone.  The 
exact  spot  is  known  to  me." 

Going  over  to  the  western  gate,  she  looked  out 
toward  the  shining  river.  Less  than  a  dozen  trees 
dotted  the  space  between  her  and  the  little  knoll 
on  the  bank  where  she  had  rested,  and  the  moon 
made  it  almost  as  bright  as  day.  She  gathered  up 
her  trailing  kirtle  with  prompt  decision. 

"  Any  Skraelling  small  enough  to  hide  in  those 
shadows,  is  not  big  enough  to  be  afraid  of,"  she 
said,  and  passed  out  quickly  with  her  firm  light 
step. 

That  anything  besides  Skraellings  might  lurk 
in  the  shadows,  she  seemed  to  forget.  Reaching 
the  bank,  she  sent  one  look  of  admiration  out  over 
the  radiant  river,  then  bent  her  gaze  to  the  foot  of 
the  tree  among  whose  roots  her  fingers  were  swiftly 
feeling.  To  look  up  into  the  branches  she  had 
no  thought  whatever. 

Yet  not  ten  paces  from  her,  Death  lay  along  a 
180 


HANDS    OF    POWER 


bough, — Death  in  a  tawny  body  with  eyes  like  fire 
and  a  tail  like  a  serpent,  noiselessly  lashing  the  air 
as  the  graceful  form  crouched  for  a  spring. 

The  first  warning  she  had  was  when  a  voice 
she  knew  spoke  sharply  from  the  shadows  before 
her :  "  Lie  down  on  your  face  !  "  The  catastrophe 
came  only  a  breath  after  the  warning.  As  she 
threw  herself  forward,  something  leaped  over  her 
and  met  something  else  in  mid-air.  There  was  the 
jar  of  heavy  bodies  striking  the  earth,  a  crackle 
of  breaking  twigs,  and  the  silver  stillness  was  pro- 
faned by  a  horrible  sound  of  snarling  and  long- 
drawn  gasps. 

Clutching  at  the  tree-trunk,  she  tried  to  pull 
herself  to  her  feet;  but  the  two  struggled  on  the 
very  skirt  of  her  robe  and  held  her  pinioned.  Only 
over  her  shoulder  she  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
giant  cat,  where  it  lay  on  its  back,  clutching  in 
its  claws  the  boy  who  knelt  on  its  lashing  body 
with  no  other  weapon  against  the  gaping  jaws 
than  his  bare  brown  hands.  It  seemed  to  her  that 
she  shrieked,  and  it  is  certain  that  she  swooned ;  for 
the  next  thing  she  knew,  she  lay  on  her  face  in  the 
grass  with  Alrek  bending  toward  her. 

181 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

"  It  is  over,"  he  said  briefly,  and  dragged  a 
heavy  weight  from  her  skirt. 

Pulling  herself  to  her  feet,  she  leaned  dizzily 
against  a  tree,  staring  down  at  the  strange  monster 
that  had  the  shape  of  a  cat  and  the  size  of  a  hound. 

"  You  choked  him?  "  she  whispered. 

The  Swordless  One  nodded.  "  There  was  no 
other  way.  Last  week  I  saw  him  leap  down  upon 
a  deer  and  suck  the  blood  from  its  throat.  I 
thought  then  that  my  hands  on  his  throat  would 
be  my  only  chance  if  ever  we  had  dealings  together. 
Yet  I  did  not  think  that  he  would  come  so  near  the 
wall." 

"  It  is  God's  miracle  that  you  also  chanced  to 
be  near  it,"  she  breathed. 

"  It  is  not  all  chance,"  he  answered.  "  I  have 
been  here  more  than  one  night  since  they  began 
to  set  the  tables  under  the  trees.  Torchlight  at- 
tracts other  things  besides  sharks.  It  is  like  watch- 
ing the  red  lights  of  the  North,  to  watch  the  cook- 
fires  shine  on  the  branches;  and  when  the  men 
sing  over  their  wine,  the  sound  reaches  out  here 
so  that  it  is  almost  the  same  as  though  I  were 
among —  "  He  came  slowly  to  self -consciousness, 
182 


With  no  other  weapon  than  his  bare  brown  hands. 


HANDS    OF   POWER 


and  turned  away  and  gave  his  attention  to  sopping 
with  his  ragged  cloak  the  blood  trickling  from  his 
torn  limbs. 

The  sight  of  wounds  brought  Gudrid  instantly 
to  her  capable  self.  "  Teh  "  she  said ;  and  tearing 
her  apron  into  strips,  she  put  his  hands  aside  and 
fell  to  work  with  skilful  swiftness.  For  a  little, 
nothing  was  said  between  them. 

Yet  it  was  not  of  the  bleeding  flesh  that  either 
was  thinking  in  the  silence.  More  than  once,  Alrek 
insisted  that  the  work  was  done  and  tried  to  pull 
away  from  her  and  escape;  and  as  her  fingers 
flew,  her  mind  went  even  faster,  seeking  some 
means  by  which  to  bind  up  the  bleeding  spirit  as 
well.  Suddenly,  with  her  eyes  on  the  empty  brown 
hands  that  were  yet  so  full  of  power,  the  way  was 
opened  to  her. 

Looking  up  from  where  she  knelt  beside  him, 
she  spoke  courageously :  "  Kinsman,  there  is  little 
need  that  I  should  tell  you  what  you  know  by  your- 
self—that although  Karlsefne  would  grant  you  a 
pardon  in  payment  for  this  help,  he  would  not  give 
you  his  faith,  which  is  what  you  want." 

Though  he  had  not  flinched  from  the  touch  of 
13  183 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

her  hand  on  his  wounds,  the  boy  winced  under  her 
words.  "  I  want  neither  his  faith  nor  his  pardon !  " 
he  said  between  his  teeth.  "  I  beg  you  to  let 
me  go." 

"  Not  until  you  have  heard  me,"  she  answered. 
"  I  have  said  this  to  show  you  that  I  am  not  speak- 
ing soft  lies,  but  the  truth.  Now  I  am  going  to 
tell  you  more  truth;  the  right-minded  thing  for 
you  to  do  is  to  come  back  to  the  band  and  live  as 
one  of  the  men,  until  some  twist  of  the  thread 
brings  your  rank  back  to  you." 

She  worked  a  while  after  that  without  looking 
up,  for  she  could  feel  his  glance  beating  down  upon 
her.  After  a  time  he  said  huskily : 

"  It  is  of  no  use  ...  I  am  dishon- 
ored. .  .  ." 

At  that  she  raised  her  eyes  with  a  hint  of  scorn. 
"  It  is  true  then  that  you  did  slay  the  Skraelling?  " 

He  looked  at  her  sorrowfully.  "  I  had  thought 
that  you  would  believe  in  me,  kinswoman." 

"  Why,  so  I  did,"  she  answered,  "  until  I  heard 

you  say  that  you  were  dishonored.     For  if  you 

did  not  touch  the  deed,  how  could  it  stain  you  ?  " 

Rising  up,  she  laid  her  palms  upon  his  breast  and 

184 


HANDS    OF    POWER 


made  him  give  her  eye  for  eye.  "  Did  it  make 
your  hands  helpless  because  no  sword  was  in  them 
to-night?"  she  challenged  him.  "I  think  I  have 
never  seen  weapons  more  powerful;  nor  was  your 
eye  less  quick  to  see  my  peril,  nor  your  heart  less 
brave  to  help  me, — nay,  you  were  twice  brave  that 
you  came  with  empty  hands !  Will  you  belie  the 
courage  and  honor  which  you  know  you  have, 
because  you  lack  the  red  cloth  and  the  bit  of  steel 
that  are  the  runes  which  stand  for  them?  If  you 
will,  you  are  not  the  Alrek  Ingolfsson  that  I  had 
wished  my  child  would  be  like." 

Looking  into  his  eyes  she  saw  a  fire,  long 
quenched,  kindle  and  burn ;  and  her  palms  on  his 
breast  felt  the  deep  breath  he  drew ;  nor  did  he  have 
any  words  of  disproof.  Discreet  as  she  was  bold, 
she  asked  for  no  words  of  assent.  Leaving  him, 
she  went  and  tried  to  lift  the  forepart  of  the  limp 
body. 

"  Get  this  upon  your  back,"  she  said.  "  The 
Champions  will  become  glad  at  this." 

Silently  he  obeyed,  drawing  the  dangling  paws 
over  his  shoulder  so  that  the  long  body  hung  down 
his  back  like  a  tawny  cloak.  Slowly  he  followed 

185 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

after  as  she  turned  and  led  the  way  toward  the 
gate, — until  they  were  within  two  spear-lengths  of 
it  and  a  hubbub  of  voices  and  laughter  came  out 
to  them  like  a  puff  of  wind.  Then  gradually  his 
pace  slackened,  and  she  looked  around  to  find  that 
his  face  was  flooded  with  painful  color. 

She  had  the  impulse  to  reach  out  and  catch 
hold  of  him;  but  it  was  the  impulse  which  came 
to  her  lips  that  she  acted  on,  speaking  as  quietly 
as  she  would  have  spoken  to  her  child  had  he 
ventured  too  near  the  edge  of  a  cliff :  "  I  do  not 
know  whether  it  is  to  your  mind  to  enter  the  camp 
with  me,  but  it  is  the  truth  that  I  shall  hear  enough 
of  my  foolishness  without  having  you  lead  me  home 
as  well  as  save  me.  If  I  slip  through  this  gate,  as 
I  came,  will  you  use  the  east  one,  which  is  also 
nearer  your  own  booth  ?  " 

Then  she  knew  that  she  had  guessed  aright, 
for  once  more  he  moved  forward,  and  under  his 
breath  he  answered :  "  Yes." 

By  the  time  she  had  gained  the  center  of  the 
green,  she  knew  also  that  he  had  kept  his  word. 
Suddenly  a  joyous  uproar  went  up  from  the  table- 
ful of  Vinland  Champions,  and  some  were  rolled 
186 


HANDS    OF    POWER 


off  the  benches  in  the  haste  of  others  to  get  on  their 
feet ;  and  crossing  the  moonlit  space  beyond  them, 
she  saw  a  soldierly  young  figure  with  a  mass  of 
yellow  fur  swinging  from  his  shoulder — saw  him 
and  then  lost  him  in  the  throng  that  closed,  cheer- 
ing, about  him. 

Her  firm  sweet  month  relaxed  happily.  "  That 
is  the  first  step  toward  a  good  outcome,"  she  said. 
"  If  the  Fates  have  any  justice  in  their  breasts, 
they  will  attend  to  the  rest."  And  from  afar  she 
beamed  brightly  on  the  group,  even  as  the  moon 
above  was  beaming  upon  her. 


187 


CHAPTER    XVII 

SHOWING  HOW  THE  CHAMPIONS  BROKE  A  THREAD 
IN  THE  HUNTSMAN'S  NET 

OVER  the  boulders  between  which  the  narrow 
trail  wound  down  to  the  building  place  on  the 
beach,  Thorhall's  green  eyes  stared  in  surprise. 
After  a  three  days'  scouting  trip,  he  had  taken 
a  roundabout  way  campward  in  order  to  get  a 
glimpse  of  the  vessel  in  whose  progress  he  was 
interested,  but  it  appeared  that  here  was  more 
change  than  he  had  anticipated. 

Grown  to  all  its  graceful  outlines  the  ship  still 
waited  on  its  rollers,  high  enough  up  on  the  shelv- 
ing beach  to  rest  immune  from  the  whims  of  the 
tide.  Around  it  and  in  it  and  under  it  the  band 
worked  as  usual,  whistling  and  wrangling  amiably. 
But  a  pace  to  the  right,  where  a  rock  humped 
through  the  gravel  offered  chance  for  a  forge,  there 
was  a  feature  new  to  the  scene, — a  brown-haired 
young  smith  hammering  vigorously  at  a  bar  of 
188 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S    NET 


glowing  iron.  If  he  did  not  whistle  as  he  ham- 
mered, yet  he  worked  as  steadily  as  though  he  had 
always  stood  there;  and  above  the  hum  could  be 
heard  Brand's  voice,  speaking  with  eager  deference : 

"  Alrek,  is  it  your  opinion  that  a  bolt  is  needed 
here,  or  will  it  be  sufficient  to  tie  this  plank  ?  " 

While  Ingolf's  son  made  brief  answer  between 
the  strokes  of  his  hammer,  the  Huntsman  descended 
the  rest  of  the  trail  in  scowling  cogitation.  When 
the  noise  of  question  and  answer  had  subsided,  he 
came  out  suddenly  upon  the  beach. 

"  Hail  to  the  chief!  "  he  said. 

If  the  salute  was  designed  to  ask  a  question 
as  well  as  offer  greeting,  it  served  its  purpose. 
The  brown-haired  smith  did  not  even  turn  his 
head ;  it  was  still  Erlend  the  Amiable  who  answered 
to  the  title,  straightening  quickly  to  give  back  nod 
for  nod. 

"  Thorhall !  Now  I  am  glad  you  are  back  to 
release  us  from  our  promise  to  let  no  one  know  the 
secret  of  the  south  country.  Tell  Alrek  without 
delay  about  the  treasure-land  you  have  found." 

There  was  delay,  however,  in  the  manner  in 
which  the  Huntsman  moved  forward,  paused  to 
189 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

look  at  whatever  addition  in  the  boat  interested 
him,  paused  to  unwind  a  fetter  of  seaweed  bubbles 
from  his  ankle,  and  finally  seated  himself  on  a 
boulder  and  studied  the  smith  intently. 

"  Have  you  come  back  for  good?  "  he  inquired. 

Before  Alrek  could  speak,  Gard — working 
behind  him — answered  by  a  jeer:  "  Some  may  have 
cause  to  think  that  he  has  come  back  for  ill." 

In  the  interests  of  peace  Erlend  raised  his 
voice :  "  I  beg  of  you,  Gard,  to  turn  fox  for  a 
while  and  go  down  the  beach  and  dig  enough 
clams  to  fill  your  cloak-skirt;  so  that  we  shall  be 
fed,  when  noontime  comes,  without  going  back  to 
the  camp." 

It  seemed  to  the  Huntsman  that  there  was  some- 
thing suspicious  in  the  docility  with  which  Gard 
obeyed,  somewhat  as  though  he  felt  that  he  was 
leaving  a  sentinel  behind  him.  The  small  eyes 
continued  their  study  of  the  smith,  as  an  angler 
might  study  a  fish  while  he  was  considering  what 
spear  to  employ.  After  a  silence,  which  no  one 
ventured  to  break,  he  spoke  bluntly: 

"  The  country  south  and  west  of  here  is  in- 
habited by  dwarfs.  By  that  I  do  not  mean  merely 
190 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S    NET 


people  who  are  small-shaped,  but  the  Northern 
race  that  is  skilled  in  metal-work.  You  remember 
that  Tyrfing  was  forged  by  such?  Now  I  think 
you  have  yourself  a  sword — I  ask  you  not  to 
blame  me !  I  did  not  mean  to  press  that  wound. 
But  at  least  it  serves  to  make  plain  to  you  whom 
I  mean.  In  this  land,  they  live  in  caverns  of  the 
gold-bearing  mountains  of  which  the  south  and 
west  country  is  full.  I  think  I  have  described  to 
you  their  homes  ?  " 

The  band  answered  even  rapturously :   "  Never 
shall  I  forget  it !  "     "  No  king's  palace  could— 
"  I  wish  Alrek  had  heard —  "     "  Tell  over  about 
that  one  with  the  golden  roof-          "Yes,  good 
Thorhall!"     "Yes!"    "Yes!" 

It  did  not  appear  that  Thorhall  heard  them; 
as  a  hawk  might  watch  a  coop  for  the  appearance 
of  the  chickens,  he  was  watching  Alrek's  mouth  for 
the  first  word  of  doubt. 

None  came.  Slowly,  the  smith's  blows  became 
further  between.  Presently  he  rested  his  hammer 
on  the  rock  and  his  elbow  on  the  hammer  handle. 
"  That  is  of  the  greatest  interest,"  he  said  thought- 
fully. "  And  it  comes  to  my  mind  to  wonder  if  it 
191 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

could  have  been  your  dwarfs  that  Rolf  Erlingsson 
saw  when  he  was  here  with  Leif  the  Lucky  ?  He 
said  those  creatures  were  low  as  junipers,  while 
Skraellings  are  most  of  them  of  good  height — Yet 
he  said  also  that  they  were  poor  and  mean-looking ! 
Your  dwarfs  must  be  as  rich  as  Hnoss  herself."  He 
ended  uncertainly. 

But  the  Huntsman  leaned  back  and  smote  his 
great  knee  with  rare  enthusiasm.  "  Now  your 
comrades  are  right  in  valuing  your  wit  above 
others !  "  he  said.  "  Never  had  the  thought  come 
to  me  before,  yet  it  is  twice  as  likely  as  not.  So 
cunning  are  they,  that  it  would  be  altogether  ac- 
cording to  their  custom  to  disguise  themselves  like 
Skraellings  when  they  had  the  wish  to  spy  upon 
strangers.  It  cannot  be  said  that  they  have  a 
fondness  for  strangers.  You  know  that  it  was  a 
dwarf  who  caused  my  wreck  at  Keel  Cape  ?  " 

"  No,  that  is  a  story  you  have  not  told  us,"  the 
band  cried  eagerly. 

He  looked  at  them  indulgently.    "  Now  it  is  not 

much  of  a  tale.    The  beginning  of  it  is  that  I  pried 

too  deep  into  an  old  long-beard's  secrets,  so  that 

I  had  to  run  for  my  life.    I  should  be  feasting  on 

192 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S    NET 


boar-flesh  in  Valhalla  now,  if  I  had  not  left  the 
boat  with  its  stem  toward  the  water  and  the  oars  in 
the  row-locks ;  for  we  were  no  more  than  out  of 
sight  of  land  when  the  dwarf-man  reached  the 
shore."  He  paused  to  glance  around  the  group. 
*'  I  suppose  you  remember  how  King  Skiold  blew 
upon  a  passing  ship  so  that  the  boom  fell  over 
and  killed  Eystein  where  he  stood  by  the  steering 
oar?  "  he  inquired. 

While  they  nodded  impatiently,  Alrek  spoke  in 
confirmation :  "  I  believe  that  to  be  true,  because 
once  I  met  a  Finnish  sailor  who  could  change  the 
wind  by  turning  his  cap." 

"  You  have  seen  so  much  of  the  world,"  the 
Huntsman  said  admiringly,  "  that  it  would  become 
a  great  misfortune  if  you  should  lose  this  chance 
of  seeing  more  wonders.  To  go  on  relating, — the 
dwarf  used  the  same  trick,  though  a  little  differ- 
ently. Instead  of  blowing,  he  raised  a  gale  only  by 
flapping  his  cloak ;  and  the  water  rose  behind  us  in 
a  sea-wall.  I  had  often  wondered  what  it  would 
be  like  to  be  at  the  spot  where  a  storm  begins,  and 
that  time  I  found  out.  The  water  rose  behind  us 
with  a  roar,  and  swept  us  along  past  the  entrance  to 
193 


THE    VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

the  Vinland  bay  until  we  struck  the  Keel  bar,  and 
the  boat  went  to  pieces  and  the  other  three  went 
down  and  Thor  saved  me.  Hallad  felt  very  un- 
willing to  drown.  You  remember  I  had  on  only  one 
boot  when  you  found  me?  I  can  remember  feeling 
something  pull  at  the  other  so  that  I  thought  a 
shark  had  me  and  gave  it  a  strong  kick  off. 
Now  I  know  that  it  was  Hallad  clutching  at 
it.  I  suppose  it  was  because  he  got  bitter  that 
I  did  not  help  him,  that  he  comes  back  to  haunt 
me." 

"  That  would  be  in  every  respect  like  Hallad," 
Brand  said  scornfully.  "  He  was  always  wont  to 
expect  some  one  to  look  out  for  him.  Thorhall,  will 
you  not  let  us  see  that  chain  again,  that  Alrek 
may  get  it  clear  before  his  mind  what  great  things 
are  in  store  for  us  ?  " 

It  appeared  from  his  manner  that  there  was 
nothing  Thorhall  would  not  do  to  oblige  them. 
"  Willingly,"  he  answered,  and  straightway  undid 
the  bag  around  his  neck.  Dropping  their  tools, 
they  came  and  stood  around  him  in  so  cosy  a  circle 
that  the  Ugly  One,  far  down  the  beach,  took  one 
fist  out  of  the  oozy  gravel  it  was  raking  to  shake 
194 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S    NET 


it  at  them,  and  never  knew  that  the  other  hand 
had  turned  up  a  clam  until  a  jet  of  water  struck 
him  in  the  face. 

If  the  necklace  had  sparkled  in  the  gray  light 
of  the  Wonderstrands,  it  may  be  imagined  what 
it  did  here  in  the  sun.  Some  of  the  gems  encrusting 
it  were  blue  as  the  bay  before  them,  and  some  were 
like  pearls  in  which  a  fire  had  been  kindled,  and 
some  were  like  nothing  less  than  stars.  The  Hunts- 
man let  Alrek  reach  out  and  take  it  for  himself, 
and  the  young  Viking  drew  a  quick  breath  of 
pleasure  as  he  felt  its  weight. 

"  Now  I  have  seen  booty  taken  from  kings' 
palaces,  but  never  anything  to  match  this,"  he 
said.  "  It  was  without  doubt  the  luck  of  our  lives 
that  we  found  you  that  day  on  the  Wonderstrands. 
I  remember  overhearing  you  say  to  Faste  that  the 
reason  you  would  not  bring  your  news  forward  in 
the  hall  was  because  you  did  not  want  the  chiefs 
to  take  the  power  out  of  your  hands.  I  suppose 
the  reason  you  share  the  secret  with  us  is  because 
we  can  give  the  help  of  a  ship  ?  " 

Erlend  looked  up  in  surprise,  the  necessity  of 
a  reason  for  the  Huntsman's  cordiality  not  having 
195 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

before  occurred  to  him.  The  Huntsman  looked  out 
from  under  roughened  brows,  though  he  kept  his 
words  smooth. 

"  Now  you  do  less  than  justice  to  your  com- 
rades' valor  and  accomplishments,"  he  began.  But 
he  stopped  as  he  saw  one  of  Alrek's  eyes  close  in 
good-humored  derision. 

"When  is  it  your  intention  to  sail?"  the 
Swordless  brought  him  back  to  the  point. 

The  Huntsman  reached  out  and  took  back  his 
chain.  "  That  you  must  ask  your  chief,"  he  an- 
swered; and  spite  was  so  evident  in  his  use  of  the 
title,  that  the  Amiable  One  hastened  to  answer 
before  he  could  be  asked: 

"  I  think  it  will  take  about  five  days  more  to 
finish  the  outfittings,  and  then  two  to  stock  it  with 
food.  If  a  fair  wind  blows  on  it,  we  can  surely 
sail  on  the  tenth  day." 

Slowly  Alrek  lowered  the  hammer  he  had  raised 
to  return  to  his  work.  "  It  must  be  that  you  are 
forgetting  the  Skraellings,"  he  said.  "  Because 
the  hunters  have  seen  nothing  of  them,  proves 
little;  Leif  Ericsson's  men  saw  nothing  of  the 
dwarfs  until  they  were  upon  them.  It  is  a  sure 
196 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S    NET 


sign,  when  a  slain  man  is  found  lying  on  his  face, 
that  he  will  be  revenged.  Any  day  it  may  happen 
that  they  come ;  and  if  we  should  be  away  hunting 
gold  while  our  camp-mates  fought  for  their  lives, 
we  should  get  little  fame  though  we  brought 

back " 

The  Huntsman  rose  to  his  gigantic  height. 
"  Are  you  the  chief?  "  he  snarled. 

That  was  the  third  time  he  had  pressed  the 
wound ;  the  flame  in  Alrek's  cheeks  sent  sparks  to 
his  eyes  as  he  wheeled. 

"No,  I  am  not  the  chief,"  he  answered 
squarely,  "  but  I  have  the  right  of  every  free  man 
to  make  my  voice  heard  in  deciding  matters,  and 
I  can  tell  you  that  it  is  going  to  be  heard  though 
you  weave  all  the  spells  you  know." 

Perhaps  the  Huntsman  did  try  to  weave  a  spell, 
for  he  turned  at  once  toward  those  who  had  so  far 
obeyed  his  every  move  like  snake-channed  birds. 
"  What  of  you?  "  he  hissed.  "  Will  you  put  off 
this  chance  for  treasure,  to  fight  for  the  Lawman 
who  disbelieved  your  oaths  and  showed  disrespect 
to  your  high-seat?  " 

And  the  chorus  answered  him  loudly :  "  No ! ' 
197 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

And  Brand  made  himself  conspicuous  by  his 
fierceness.  "  Let  the  Skraellings  cut  blood-eagles  in 
Karlsef  ne ! " 

It  is  likely  that  he  wished  directly  after  that 
he  had  kept  still,  for  instead  of  praise,  it  brought 
him  a  look  of  scathing  contempt  from  the  Sword- 
less. 

"  Now  you  talk  like  fools,"  the  young  Viking 
said,  "  to  think  to  revenge  private  wrongs  in  war- 
time. He  would  be  a  fine  soldier  who  because  he 
had  a  grudge  against  his  chief  would  desert  in  time 
of  battle  and  leave  his  comrades  to  fight  alone.  No 
knife  could  scrape  off  this  shame." 

They  quailed  so  under  that,  that  the  Hunts- 
man's green  eyes  became  like  the  eyes  of  a  Vinland 
elk  at  bay.  Turning  where  Erlend  stood  silent,  he 
struck  again: 

"  You  then, — if  you  have  any  power  who  call 
yourself  the  chief !  " 

Erlend  laughed  uneasily;  his  handsome  face 
had  turned  painfully  red.  "  It  seems  that  I  was 
mistaken  in  thinking  that  that  name  belonged  to 
me,"  he  answered. 

198 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S    NET 


Crimsoning,  Alrck  fell  from  his  hill  of  scorn 
to  the  valley  of  abashment.  "  Erlend,  I  meant 
no — no  disrespect  toward  you,"  he  stammered. 
"  I  did  not  mean  to  step  out  of  my  place —  He 
was  obliged  to  stop,  for  Erlend's  hand  closed  over 
his  mouth. 

"What  are  you  talking  about?"  the  Amiable 
One  said  sternly.  "  That  is  in  no  way  what  I 
mean.  What  you  did  was  to  step  into  the  place 
that  belongs  to  you."  He  exerted  some  of  his 
strength  to  keep  his  palm  where  he  had  put  it. 
"  Listen  to  me !  I  am  unfit  to  have  the  rule  over 
anything.  Never  did  it  come  into  my  head  that 
leaving  would  be  disloyal.  I  should  have  done  a 
nithing  thing  which  the  saga-men  would  never  have 
forgotten.  I  know  of  no  better  happening  than 
that  you  should  come  into  your  own  in  time  to  save 
me."  He  stretched  out  his  other  hand  toward  the 
assembled  Champions.  "  You  shouted  before  when 
I  said  that  I  should  offer  the  chiefship  back.  I 
shall  think  your  tongues  of  little  value  if  you  keep 
them  between  your  teeth  now !  " 

The  eagerness  with  which  Brand  offered  the 
14  199 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

first  cheer  seemed  designed  to  make  up  for  his 
blunder  of  the  moment  before.  He  was  seconded 
by  a  deep  roar  from  Gard,  who  had  just  come  up 
with  his  burden  on  his  back.  After  that,  there 
was  no  separating  the  shouts  that  came;  and  they 
banged  their  tools  against  the  ship  in  lieu  of 
swords  and  shields. 

When  the  racket  had  subsided,  Erlend  turned 
back  to  the  Swordless  with  a  smile  that  had  yet 
a  touch  of  haughtiness.  "  I  shall  take  it  as  an 
insult  to  my  pride  if  you  ask  me  to  keep  what  so 
plainly  belongs  to  you,"  he  said. 

After  a  while  Alrek  looked  up  from  the  trenches 
his  foot  was  digging  in  the  sand.  "  I  will  accept  it 
gladly,  if  Karlsefne  will  allow  me  to,"  he  answered ; 
and  there  was  more  cheering  and  all  hands  were 
stretched  out  to  him. 

All  but  two,  that  is ;  shifting  uneasily  from  one 
foot  to  the  other,  Brand  and  Gard  the  Ugly  stood 
aside  nor  dared  make  any  advances. 

The  Swordless  himself  hesitated  when  finally 
he  came  to  them,  and  his  face  caught  some  of  their 
embarrassed  color ;  but  at  last  he  put  out  his  hand. 
200 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S    NET 


They    gripped    it    eagerly,    and    there    was    more 
cheering. 

Under  cover  of  it  the  Huntsman  turned  and 
stalked  away ;  and  what  had  been  angry  suspicion 
as  he  descended  the  trail,  was  angry  certainty  as 
he  stamped  up  it. 


201 


CHAPTER    XVIII 

CONCERNING    A    GRIM    BARGAIN    BETWEEN    THE 
LAWMAN    AND    ALREK 

"  AND  I  will  seek  out  Gudrid,  whose  counsel  is 
good  in  everything,"  Alrek  said  as  he  and  Erlend 
rose  from  the  morning  meal  at  the  table  under 
the  trees,  "  if  so  be  you  give  me  leave  to  be  late 
to  the  work." 

"  If  so  be  you  need  leave  from  me,  you  have 
it  for  anything  you  do,"  Erlend  answered. 

Then  the  Amiable  One  and  all  the  Champions 
not  bound  to  kitchen-posts  took  their  leisurely  way 
through  the  cool  green  forest  to  the  waiting  ship; 
and  Alrek  the  Swordless  turned  in  the  opposite 
direction  and  strolled  past  the  empty  tables  and 
groups  of  trencher-laden  thralls  toward  Karlsef  ne's 
booth. 

Before  the  door-step  small  Snorri  tumbled 
about  in  the  clover,  shouting  lustily  for  his  mother 
to  come  and  play  with  him ;  which  seemed  to  Alrek 
202 


A   GRIM    BARGAIN 


so  good  a  reason  for  expecting  her  prompt  arrival 
that  he  troubled  himself  to  go  no  further.  Stretch- 
ing his  lithe  length  on  the  grass,  he  changed  the 
cries  into  laughter  by  butting  the  crier  over  on  his 
back  each  time  he  opened  his  mouth ;  and  the 
maneuver  was  crowned  with  immediate  success. 
After  a  very  little  time,  Gudrid  appeared  in  the 
door,  a  piece  of  sewing  in  her  hand,  inquiry  in  her 
blue  eyes. 

"  Oh !  That  is  why  he  stopped  screaming !  " 
she  said  with  an  accent  of  relief.  "  So  long  as  he 
is  crying,  I  know  that  he  is  safe.  Now  you  arc  a 
lazy-goer,  kinsman,  to  be  lying  on  the  grass  when 
every  one  else  is  at  work." 

Shaking  the  clovers  from  his  hair,  Alrek  sat 
up, — he  would  have  stood  up  if  it  were  not  that 
the  Frowner  had  crept  across  his  feet.  "  I  wait 
only  to  ask  your  advice,  kinswoman,  about  a  way 
to  speak  alone  with  Karlsefne.  For  two  days  I 
have  looked  in  vain  for  a  chance.  I  want  to  get 
his  justice." 

Coming  out  of  the  doorway,  Gudrid  seated 
herself  on  the  step,  and  sat  absently  stabbing  holes 
in  her  work  with  her  bronze  needle.  "  Justice  is  a 
203 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

heavy  weapon  to  challenge  unless  you  are  sure  that 
you  stand  very  firm  on  your  legs,  kinsman,"  she 
said  at  last. 

He  answered :  "  I  stand  very  firm,"  and  the 
sternness  of  his  voice  was  in  singular  contrast  to  the 
gentleness  of  his  hand  as  he  stretched  it  out  to 
steady  the  Frowner  in  his  upward  progress. 

Watching  them,  Gudrid's  pucker  of  anxiety 
smoothed  into  a  fond  smile.  "  Now  certainly  I 
know  that  you  are  guiltless,"  she  said.  "  I  have 
only  to  see  your  behavior  toward  the  child  to  be 
sure  of  that."  She  did  not  continue  her  assurances 
for  Alrek's  mouth  had  curved  into  amiable  deri- 
sion. 

"  Why,  that  proves  nothing,"  he  said. 

Gudrid's  foot  stirred  the  clovers.  "  I  will  give 
you  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  Karlsefne  has 
made  me  the  same  answer.  Sometimes  it  seems  to 
me  that  a  man's  wit  is  like  a  bat,  which  disdains 
the  good  daylight  to  go  about  in,  but  must  show 
its  skill  by  finding  its  way  in  the  dark !  I  can  even 
guess  that  this  very  boldness  of  yours,  which  causes 
me  to  believe  in  you,  will  seem  to  the  Lawman  to 
be  but  another  trick  of  your  outlaw  blood.  Re- 
204 


A   GRIM    BARGAIN 


member  how  they  say  in  Greenland  that  a  seal  who 
tries  to  swim  against  too  strong  a  current  has  often 
to  turn  back  and  be  caught  by  the  hunters.  Kins- 
man, kinsman  " — she  put  out  her  hand  and  pressed 
his  shoulder — "  be  very  sure  of  your  strength !  " 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  and  bent  his  head  to  touch  his 
lips  to  her  fingers. 

More  than  the  words,  the  rare  caress  told  her 
tjaat  his  mood  was  no  light  one ;  and  she  warned  no 
more.  Rising,  she  spoke  quietly :  "  I  will  do  the 
only  thing  I  can  to  give  you  help.  Karlsefne  is 
making  the  round  of  the  meadows  where  the  men 
are  haying.  I  did  not  send  his  noon-meal  with 
him — because  I  did  not  think  it  fitting  that  he 
should  eat  old  bread,  and  the  new  is  not  yet  out  of 
the  oven — but  I  had  the  intention  to  send  it  out 
to  him  by  a  thrall.  Now  if  you  choose  you  may 
carry  it,  and  so  get  him  apart  for  your  purpose." 

"  That  will  serve  well,  and  I  give  you  thanks," 
Alrek  answered. 

Nodding,  she  went  swiftly  in  to  hurry  the 
baking;  and  Alrek  arose  and  setting  the  Frowner 
upon  his  shoulder  paced  to  and  fro  in  the  sun- 
shine that  had  settled  over  the  camp  like  a  golden 
205 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

spell,  subduing  the  bustle  of  morning  activity  to  a 
drowsy  drone. 

Lulled  by  the  hum  and  the  slow  motion,  Snorri's 
yellow  head  began  to  nod,  swaying  and  bobbing 
until  it  rested  heavily  upon  the  brown  locks  of  his 
bearer.  Gudrid  received  a  bundle  of  sweet  warm 
limpness  in  return  for  the  basket  and  skin  of  ale 
which  she  finally  brought  out. 

"  It  is  not  unlike  gathering  up  a  jellyfish,!' 
she  laughed  as  she  took  him. 

But  Alrek's  smile  was  faint  in  response.  He 
had  been  thinking  as  he  paced,  and  the  gravity  of 
what  he  was  about  to  do  was  full  upon  him. 

"  I  give  you  thanks,"  he  said  a  second  time, 
gently,  and  left  her. 

Outside,  in  the  great  free  world  beyond  the 
wall,  it  seemed  to  him  that  everything  was  coaxing 
for  a  smile.  The  reach  of  woodland  into  which 
the  grove  deepened  was  alluring  with  the  song  of 
hidden  brooks  and  spicy  with  the  breath  of  pines 
and  hospitable  with  berry  thickets,  black  and  red 
and  blue  as  the  river  to  which  the  wood  finally 
gave  way.  The  elms  of  the  bank  flaunted  wreath- 
ing grape-vines;  the  rushes  at  the  edge  sported 
206 


dragon-flics  like  living  jewels, — flashing  in  the 
sunlight,  the  river  itself  was  one  broad  smile.  Dull 
anger  took  possession  of  him  when  he  found  his 
spirits  too  heavy  to  rise  in  response. 

"  It  may  be  that  I  should  become  a  coward  if 
this  went  on,"  he  murmured.  "  I  was  not  any  too 
quick  about  making  up  my  mind." 

And  when,  a  little  further  on,  he  came  to  a 
finger  of  the  stream  and  saw  on  one  of  the  mossy 
stepping-stones  a  water-snake  struggling  with  a 
frog  which  was  only  half  swallowed,  he  made  no 
move  to  release  the  victim. 

"  Better  to  die  whole  than  to  live  crippled,"  he 
told  himself  grimly,  and  kept  on  his  way. 

It  seemed  a  very  short  way  now  before  he  came 
to  the  broad  sunny  valley  whose  fragrant  basin 
was  strewed  with  ripening  hay,  which  men  were 
tossing  amid  jests  and  laughter  as  became  a  crop 
planted  without  toil  and  raised  without  care.  Spy- 
ing him,  they  shouted  greetings  of  good-humored 
banter;  and  he  raised  his  hand  mechanically,  as  his 
eyes  roved  to  and  fro  seeking  the  blue-clad  figure 
of  the  Lawman.  It  formed  no  part  of  the  groups 
scattered  over  the  valley,  nor  was  it  anywhere  alone 
207 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

in  the  open — Ah,  yonder  it  was  in  the  shade  of 
the  spreading  willow  that  rose  solitary  in  the  middle 
of  the  meadow !  A  smile  twisted  Alrek's  lips  as  he 
moved  forward. 

"  I  wonder,"  he  mused,  "  if  it  is  a  bad  omen 
that  I  find  him  ready  under  a  tree." 

At  least  his  luck  was  good  enough  so  that  he 
found  the  Lawman  alone,  sitting  where  two  rocks 
made  a  seat  beneath  the  willow;  nor  did  he  turn 
away  when  he  saw  who  it  was  coming  toward  him 
through  the  sunshine.  Over  the  fist  upon  which 
his  bearded  chin  was  resting,  he  watched  the 
approach  immovably. 

When  Alrek  had  come  up  and  saluted  him,  he 
answered :  "  I  shall  know  better  how  to  receive  you 
when  I  hear  your  purpose  in  taking  this  service  on 
yourself." 

"  Gudrid  allowed  me  to  do  this  that  I  might 
speak  alone  with  you,"  Alrek  made  brief  explana- 
tion. 

It  seemed  that  Karlsefne's  challenging  gaze 
relaxed  a  little.  "  There  is  the  greatest  reason  why 
Gudrid  should  wish  to  aid  you,"  he  said,  "  and 


scarcely  am  I  out  of  your  debt.  I  should  he  glad 
to  hear  that  your  errand  hither  is  to  ask  a  pardon 
from  my  gratefulness." 

Sliding  the  ale-skin  to  the  ground,  the  boy 
straightened  proudly ;  but  before  he  could  answer, 
Karlsefne  spoke  on,  unclenching  his  hand  to  pass 
it  before  his  eyes : 

"  As  you  came  toward  me,  you  looked  even  as 
your  father  looked  when  he  came  to  the  Assembly 
Plain  to  hear  the  judges  condemn  him  for  his 
crimes ;  and  now  as  then  I  hate  the  deeds  and  love 
the  doer  so  that  the  two  feelings  arc  like  two  fires 
raging  within  me."  Taking  away  his  hand  he 
showed  the  stern  beauty  of  his  face  aglow  with 
feeling,  as  some  lofty  rock  under  the  touch  of  a 
red  Northern  light.  "  I  beg  of  you  to  throw 
yourself  upon  my  mercy.  Defiance  has  gathered 
like  drift-ice  in  your  breast,  shutting  out  all  that 
would  come  through  to  bring  you  good.  Break 
from  it  before  it  shuts  you  in  forever.  I  beg  of 
you  to  yield  and  give  me  the  joy  of  trusting  you 

again." 

Ending,  his  deep  voice  held  a  note  of  yearning 
209 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

love  that  made  the  boy's  heart  swell  strangely  in 
his  breast.  He  had  to  speak  hardly  and  shortly 
in  order  to  be  able  to  speak  at  all. 

"  Hard  is  it  to  know  how  to  answer,  for  you 
offer  me  what  I  do  not  need.  I  came  here  to  get 
your  justice.  If  I  broke  your  order,  I  deserve  an 
evil  death;  if  I  did  not,  it  is  my  right  to  live  un- 
shamed.  If  you  know  that  it  is  I  who  slew  the 
Skraelling,  I  ask  you  to  have  me  placed  against 
this  tree  and  shot." 

As  a  Northern  light  fades  from  a  rock  and 
leaves  no  warmth  behind,  so  the  glow  faded  from 
the  Lawman's  face.  "  Do  you  like  it  so  well  to 
die  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Sooner  would  I  die  than  live  as  I  have  lived 
since  your  doom,"  Alrek  answered. 

Silence  settled  heavily  upon  them.  When  a 
great  fly  boomed  out  of  the  sunlit  space  and  hung 
for  a  wink  of  time  at  the  boy's  ear,  the  sound 
seemed  thunder-loud.  But  at  last  the  Lawman 
spoke,  his  voice  as  hard  as  clanging  iron : 

"  Not  many  men  would  go  so  far  as  to  deal 
with  me  by  force  and  overbearing,  but  you  play 
the  game  as  well  as  is  to  be  expected  of  your 
210 


father's  son.  Though  I  am  sure  of  your  guilt, 
you  are  right  in  believing  that  I  am  not  sure  enough 
to  take  your  life  when  you  lay  it  in  my  hand.  And 
since  it  is  proved  that  I  am  not  sure,  I  may  not 
punish  you  at  all.  It  is  well  played.  There  are 
two  choices  before  you, — the  one  is  to  let  matters 
stand  as  they  are  now,  so  that  your  life  is  safe  and 
the  future  is  yours  to  redeem  your  credit  in ;  the 
other  is  to  get  back  your  honors  as  you  demand, 
with  the  condition  that  if  ever  this  case  comes  again 
before  my  high-seat  and  so  much  as  a  feather's 
weight  more  of  evidence  is  given  against  you,  I 
shall  declare  your  life  to  be  forfeit." 

The  long  safe  way  is  seldom  the  way  of  youth ; 
one  must  have  traveled  far  and  fallen  often  to 
make  that  choice.  The  young  Viking  answered 
without  hesitation :  "  I  will  take  my  honors  and 
the  risk." 

Rising,  the  Lawman  made  him  a  chief's  salute. 
"  So  be  it,"  he  said.  "  To-night  in  the  hall,  even 
as  I  took  them  from  you,  I  will  give  them  back 
before  all  eyes.  In  this  and  whatever  follows,  it 
shall  be  as  you  have  chosen."  He  lifted  his  hand 
as  the  boy  would  have  thanked  him. 
211 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

In  obedience  to  the  gesture,  the  Chief  of  the 
Champions  halted  and  bowed  before  him  in  silence ; 
but  his  brown  head  was  carried  high  when  he 
walked  away,  and  his  eyes  were  two  radiant  suns 
of  hope. 


212 


CHAPTER    XIX 

RELATING  THE  ADVENTURE  WITH  THE  MEN  OF  THE 
FOREST 

LIKE  dew  on  a  fresh  berry  a  silver  gauze  of 
mist  lay  over  the  fresh  day,  and  the  birds'  answers 
to  the  sun  were  still  far-between  and  sleepy,  as 
Hjalmar  Thick-Skull  came  out  of  the  bay  ward 
gate  and  sauntered  down  the  meadow-slope  to  the 
beach.  Of  late  he  had  given  over  fishing  in  the 
river  for  fishing  in  the  bay,  where  a  flat  island 
lay  like  a  lily-pad  on  the  water.  With  his  tackle 
on  his  shoulder  and  a  song  on  his  lips,  he  came 
down  where  his  boat  was  waiting  and  sent  a  care- 
less glance  around  the  horizon.  Then  the  song 
was  changed  to  a  cry,  and  he  went  back  up  the 
slope  in  long  bounds,  deafening  the  man  at  the 
gate  as  he  burst  in  upon  him. 

"  Skraellings !  Around  the  long  point  they  are 
coming  in  shoals !  " 

Staring,  the  guards  stammered  the  words  after 
213 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

him;  but  an  Icelander  who  was  passing  caught 
them  up  with  a  roar  and  started  on  a  run  for  Karl- 
sefne's  booth.  The  hounds  lying  under  the  trees 
leaped  up  and  raced  beside  him,  barking;  out  of 
every  door  that  he  passed  uncombed  heads  were 
thrust,  shouting  questions.  In  the  draft  of  a 
breath,  the  news  had  spread  like  fire. 

Reaching  the  Chief  of  the  Champions  where  he 
stood  in  his  doorway,  he  sheathed  the  sword  that 
he  was  polishing  with  so  much  pride  and  took  a 
step  toward  the  gate ;  then,  bethinking  himself  of  a 
quicker  way  to  verify  the  report,  he  turned  and 
made  for  a  great  pine-tree  standing  on  a  little 
knoll.  With  a  run  and  a  leap  he  went  up  the 
trunk,  and  clambered  from  one  great  bough  to  the 
next  as  though  they  were  steps,  until  his  head  came 
out  through  the  last  layer  of  needles. 

The  Thick-Skulled  had  spoken  truly.  The 
bright  plain  of  the  bay  was  specked  with  dark 
skin-boats;  eastward  around  the  longest  of  the 
capes,  they  were  like  a  dark  tide  rolling  in  upon 
the  land.  Something  seemed  to  tighten  in  the 
Sword-Bearer's  throat;  and  he  was  about  to  turn 
and  let  himself  down  swiftly  to  the  bough  below, 


THE    MEN    OF   THE    FOREST 

when  his  eye  was  caught  by  a  movement  up  the 
river  bank,  the  passing  of  something  dark  athwart 
the  green  of  a  bush.  Drawing  his  head  down  under 
the  green  roof,  he  hung  by  his  arms,  gazing  in- 
tently. There  was  no  open  anywhere  for  the 
Thing  to  cross,  and  just  that  dark  streak  flitting 
through  the  bush-tops  told  nothing — and  yonder 
was  a  white  streak  behind  it !  And  beyond  that  a 
dark  one!  His  hands  tightened  on  the  branch  so 
that  it  crackled.  Unless  motes  were  dancing  before 
his  eyes,  the  bush  was  alive  with  the  fleeting  wisps, 
shapeless,  soundless,  but  bearing  down  upon  the 
camp.  His  heart  seemed  to  turn  over  in  his 
body,  and  he  dropped  like  an  ape  from  limb  to 

limb. 

Descending  into  the  camp  was  like  falling  from 
the  peacefulness  of  a  masthead  into  the  roar  of  the 
ocean.  Wrangling  and  stamping  about,  the  men 
were  struggling  into  their  shirts  of  ring-mail. 
Hammering  on  their  shields  to  get  attention,  the 
chiefs  were  shouting  orders.  Bearing  messages  and 
distributing  weapons,  thralls  rushed  back  and 
forth,  followed  by  the  yelping  of  dogs  and  the 
screaming  of  bondwomen  from  the  doorways.  It 
15  215 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

took  main  force  on  the  part  of  the  Champions' 
leader  to  get  them  aside  and  make  them  under- 
stand that  it  was  not  the  enemy  before  them 
against  whom  they  were  to  turn  their  blades. 

"  The  number  of  those  in  the  boats  is  so  many 
times  greater  than  we,  that  no  men  can  be  spared 
from  the  front,"  he  concluded  swiftly.  "  To  find 
out  what  these  Things  are,  and  defend  the  gates 
against  them,  will  be  our  share.  And  it  is  likely 
that  much  depends  upon  our  getting  into  position 
without  loss  of  time.  Olaf  and  the  Hare,  I  appoint 
to  be  my  messengers ;  and  I  want  to  give  Olaf  a 
message  now,  while  the  Hare  goes  after  my  ring- 
shirt."  Drawing  the  Fair  One  aside,  he  spoke 
forcefully  in  his  ear  until  he  yielded  reluctant 
obedience  and  darted  away  in  the  direction  of  the 
pastures. 

It  may  be  admitted  that  reluctance  was  in  most 
faces  when  a  little  later  they  turned  their  backs 
upon  the  uproar  of  the  camp  and  stole  out  into  the 
loneliness  of  the  grove.  Over  their  shield-rims, 
their  eyes  rolled  apprehensively  as  their  chief 
spread  them  into  a  broad  crescent  covering  both 
gates,  and  led  them  warily  forward.  When  the 
216 


THE    MEN    OF   THE    FOREST 

first  high  ground  gained  failed  to  reveal  anything, 
they  jumped  at  the  idea  that  he  had  been  mistaken 
in  his  spying,  that  the  sun  had  dazzled  his  eyes, 
that  what  he  had  seen  was  but  a  line  of  low-flying 
swallows.  They  were  urging  it  eagerly  at  the 
very  instant  that  he  was  justified. 

All  at  once  it  was  as  though  every  twig  in  the 
undergrowth  ahead  had  turned  into  a  bow,  and 
the  bow  had  shot  an  arrow  at  them.  The  rattle 
on  their  iron  helmets  was  like  the  pelting  of  hail. 
If  their  bodies  had  not  been  armored,  they  would 
have  gone  down  as  grain  before  a  scythe. 

Alrek's  voice  rang  out  strongly :  "  Skraellings ! 
Under  cover !  Make  ready  for  their  charge !  " 

In  a  flash  they  had  leaped  backward,  behind 
trees,  bushes,  boulders,  anything.  The  sunbeams 
broke  into  jagged  lightnings  as  the  bright  swords 
sprang  from  the  scabbards. 

But  no  flesh  appeared  from  the  thicket  beyond. 
The  grove  remained  empty  and  silent  as  a  grave. 
It  shattered  the  stillness  startlingly  when  Njal 

screamed : 

"If  they  are   Skraellings,   why  do  they   not 
come  out  and  show  themselves?"     Then,  without 
217 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

pausing  for  reply,  he  added  another  shout :  "  Those 
in  the  boats  have  landed !  " 

From  the  camp  behind  them  swelled  a  din  of 
Skraelling  yells  answered  by  Norse  battle-cries, 
enforced  at  regular  intervals  by  the  hoarse  barking 
of  the  leaders. 

Njal  cried  shrilly:  "  That  is  the  way  in  which 
Skraellings  fight!  These  are  trolls!  Let  us  get 
loose  from  their  net  and  turn  back." 

Only  Alrek's  uplifted  spear  stayed  the  rush. 
"  I  think  you  will  find  my  weapon  sharp  if  you  do," 
he  warned.  "  Whether  they  be  men  or  trolls,  we 
must  take  heart  as  we  can  and  hold  them  from  the 
gates.  I  urge  you  all  to  grip  your  swords  and 
manfully  hold  your  ground.  They  can  not  do 
you  harm  while  you  are  under  cover." 

But  it  was  not  their  bodies  that  they  were 
afraid  with,  but  their  minds  which  had  raised  up 
specters.  The  sunlit  space  seemed  all  at  once  a 
cloak  for  shapes  of  horror.  Dreading  with  every 
breath  that  the  cloak  would  be  drawn  aside,  their 
eyes  shrank  from  what  it  might  reveal  as  their 
flesh  would  not  have  shrunk  from  knives.  They 
spoke  as  with  one  voice: 

218 


THE    MEN    OF   THE    FOREST 

"  This  is  jugglery  and  trickery  only !  We  will 
go  back  where  men  fight  against  men !  " 

"  You  will  not,"  spoke  Alrek  the  Chief  between 
his  teeth.  But  even  as  he  said  it,  he  saw  the  hope- 
lessness of  expecting  to  hold  them  quiet,  and  made 
his  last  move.  Throwing  aside  his  spear  he  leaped 
out  in  front  of  them,  brandishing  his  sword.  "  If 
you  must  move — move  forward !  "  he  cried.  '  You 
are  nithings  unless  you  follow  my  fate ! ' 

Even  then  it  is  not  certain  that  they  would 
have  obeyed  if  Brand  had  not  redeemed  much  by 
promptly  advancing  to  his  chief's  side. 

"  7  follow ! "  he  shouted ;  and  Erlend  and  Gard 
were  only  a  step  behind  him. 

At  that,  the  rest  turned  like  sheep  and  came 
after,  dodging  from  cover  to  cover,  clambering, 
stumbling,  ducking,  jumping,  lashing  their  cour- 
age with  a  fury  of  yelling. 

Before  the  cold  stillness  had  chilled  them  again, 
they  saw  the  foe.  Rising  from  behind  boulders, 
slipping  around  trees,  gliding  through  bushes, 
came  creatures  with  gaudy-colored  bodies  naked  as 
earthworms,  and  bristling  black  heads  feathered 
like  monstrous  birds ;  so  like  and  yet  so  hideously 
219 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

unlike  the  Skraellings,  that  Gard  cried  "  Forest 
devils !  "  and  the  band  turned  with  one  impulse  for 
flight.  But  behind  them,  across  the  ground  they 
believed  they  had  cleared,  in  the  space  between 
them  and  the  gates,  stretched  another  line.  Out 
of  their  frenzy  of  fear,  sprang  a  frenzy  of  hate; 
and  they  leaped  upon  the  creatures  with  drawn 
swords  and  the  others  met  them,  brandishing  stone 
hatchets. 

For  a  time  it  was  a  wild  game  of  dodging,  with 
death  as  a  penalty  for  awkwardness.  Whether 
they  were  men  or  demons,  the  hatchet-bearers 
showed  a  dread  of  steel  which  kept  them  hovering 
beyond  arm's  reach  whenever  they  were  not  darting 
at  an  opening.  But  at  last  the  hungry  swords 
tasted  the  flesh  they  craved,  and  their  wielders' 
shouts  of  triumph  stirred  the  rest  to  exulting 
excitement. 

"  We  will  wipe  them  out  like  flies ! "  Alrek 
cried. 

Even  as  the  words   left  his  lips,  he  made  a 

startling  discovery.    Laying  low  the  figure  in  front 

of  him,  he  glanced  over  his  shoulder  to  make  sure 

that  there  was  no  one  behind  him ;  and  turned  back 

220 


THE    MEN    OF   THE    FOREST 

to  find  a  man  standing  on  the  very  spot  that  he 
had  cleared.  Striking  him  down,  he  whirled  to  sec 
another  hideous  shape  in  the  place  that — a  breath 
before — he  had  made  empty. 

At  the  same  instant,  Brand  cried  wildly :  "  It 
seems  to  me  that  they  must  rise  from  the  dead 
since  no  matter  how  many  one  kills,  there  is  always 
the  same  number  confronting  him." 

Into  Alrek's  throat  came  the  sense  of  choking 
which  had  seized  him  in  the  tree-top  when  he  be- 
held that  dark  tide  rolling  in  upon  the  land.  Some- 
thing seemed  to  mock  in  his  ear :  "  It  will  be  like 
killing  the  flies  of  the  air  one  by  one !  "  Then 
blotting  out  this  came  the  wonder  that  Brand's 
voice  should  seem  so  far  away;  and  he  risked  a 
glance  around  the  grove,  and  his  heart  stood  still. 
In  their  mad  charge,  the  Champions  had  broken 
their  line;  until  now  no  two  fought  shoulder  to 
shoulder  but  each  stood  alone,  his  back  against  a 
tree  or  a  rock,  a  circle  of  hatchet-men  around  him. 
Even  while  their  chief  looked,  three  Champions 
were  tempted  into  making  dashes  which  carried 
them  still  wider  apart.  It  would  not  be  long  before 
they  would  be  lost  to  one  another's  sight,  and  the 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

swarms  would  close  in  around  them — He  opened  his 
mouth  to  send  forth  a  frantic  recall. 

But  the  fiend-cunning  of  the  black  eyes  watch- 
ing him  seemed  to  read  his  purpose  on  his  lips.  Sud- 
denly the  shapes  around  him  raised  an  unearthly 
howl,  which  those  on  all  sides  caught  up  and  kept 
up  until  the  din  was  like  a  wall  through  which  no 
sound  could  come  or  go. 

Alrek's  hands  continued  to  fight  from  instinct, 
but  his  brain  became  numb.  The  horror  long  hov- 
ering over  him  settled  lead-like  upon  him. 

"  They  are  trolls ! "  he  told  himself ;  and  his 
strength  began  to  ooze  out  of  him  in  icy  droops. 

He  did  not  turn  his  head  when  above  the  din 
rose  a  roar  even  more  appalling  than  the  yells. 
When  the  creatures  around  him  dropped  their 
weapons  to  fly  frantically  this  way  and  that,  he 
remained  standing  where  they  had  left  him,  pluck- 
ing at  an  arrow  which  had  pierced  his  arm  below 
his  mail.  Gazing  wonderingly,  he  saw  a  huge 
milk-white  bull  with  mouth  afoam  and  eyes  like 
red  flame  come  snorting  out  of  the  thicket,  pausing 
now  to  paw  up  the  earth  before  him,  now  to  throw 
back  his  horned  head  with  a  terrific  bellow. 
222 


THE    MEN    OF   THE    FOREST 

Then,  in  a  flash,  his  wits  came  back  to  him. 
Memory  reminded  him  that  his  own  lips  had  bidden 
Olaf  drive  the  animal  from  the  pasture  for  their  re- 
enforcement  ;  and  sense  told  him  that — even  as  he 
had  hoped  it  might  happen — the  hatchet-bearers 
had  taken  the  apparition  to  be  the  white  man's 
god,  come  to  his  people's  aid.  Leaning  back 
against  the  tree,  he  began  to  shake  with  laughter 
which  was  half  weeping. 

It  seemed  to  little  Olaf  the  Fair  that  there  was 
something  peculiar  about  the  bearing  of  all  the 
Champions,  when  a  while  later  he  met  them  back 
near  the  gates.  Their  greetings  came  in  voices  of 
unsteady  shrillness,  and  their  eyes  were  strangely 
bright.  He  said,  pouting: 

"  I  do  not  know  whether  you  mean  that  the 
fight  went  against  you  or  that  you  got  the  victory, 
but  I  warn  you  that  I  shall  dislike  it  if  you  upbraid 
me  for  fetching  the  bull  there  so  soon.  I  have  got 
scolded  enough  by  the  men  in  camp.  It  appears 
that  they  spent  the  first  part  of  the  battle  in  run- 
ning away  from  arrows,  and  they  had  only  just 
got  to  work  with  their  swords  when  I  came  through 
with  the  Bellower  and  sent  the  Skraellings  flying 
223 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

to  their  boats.  I  thought  the  Icelanders  would 
have  thrashed  me.  I  shall  not  take  it  well  if  you 
also  find  fault " 

Their  shaking  high-pitched  laughter  drowned 
his  voice. 

"  We  will  try  to  excuse  you,"  Alrek  said  in  a 
drawl  that  was  still  rather  unsteady ;  whereat  there 
was  another  outburst;  and  they  swept  clamoring 
shrilly  through  the  gate. 

Inside  the  wall  it  looked  at  the  first  glance  like 
a  trading  day,  with  shining-shirted  groups  scat- 
tered everywhere  across  the  green,  each  man  flour- 
ishing some  kind  of  weapon  while  he  talked  at  the 
top  of  his  great  lungs.  But  at  a  second  glance 
the  resemblance  was  less,  for  no  fair-time  mood  was 
in  the  mien  of  Karlsefne  and  his  chiefs  where  they 
stood  under  the  council-tree,  wiping  the  paste  of 
sweat  and  blood  from  their  faces;  and  here  and 
there  men  were  writhing  on  the  earth  while  the 
sharp  knives  of  comrades  cut  arrow-heads  out  of 
their  flesh.  And  suddenly  the  likeness  ceased  alto- 
gether, as  four  men  came  through  the  bayward 
gate,  each  pair  carrying  between  them  the  body  of 
a  dead  Icelander.  Silence  touched  each  group  the 
224 


THE    MEN    OF   THE    FOREST 

four   passed ;   and  through  the  hush,  Karlsefnc's 
voice  clanged  out  like  a  bell,  vibrating  with  wrath : 

"  I  wonder  at  it  that  you  have  control  enough 
left  to  hold  your  teeth  over  your  tongues  when 
the  dead  are  borne  past!  Up  to  this  time  you 
have  run  mad  like  wolves  that  have  tasted  blood. 
I  suppose  the  strange  thing  is  not  that  you  have 
broken  the  peace-bands  at  last  but  that  I  was  able 
to  hold  your  beast-cravings  so  long  in  check.  It 
is  all  I  can  find  to  lessen  the  gall  of  my  defeat." 

So  long  as  he  stood  before  them,  fixing  them 
with  his  eyes  like  swords,  they  remained  silent ;  but 
the  booth  door  had  no  more  than  closed  behind  him 
than  the  excitement  leaked  out  again.  In  a  little 
while  it  was  running  as  high  as  ever,  as  the  men 
boasted  of  the  great  feats  they  had  been  on  the 
verge  of  achieving,  and  vowed  exulting  vows  about 
what  they  would  do  at  the  next  meeting.  It  was 
plain  indeed  that  the  peace-bands  which  had  held 
their  swords  in  their  scabbards  were  snapped  for- 
ever. 


225 


CHAPTER    XX 

SHOWING  HOW  THE  HUNTSMAN  BAGGED  HIS  GAME 

THE  next  day,  under  a  storm-charged  sky,  the 
camp  lay  storm-charged.  In  the  doorways,  men 
stood  talking  restlessly,  with  now  and  again  an 
outburst  of  sharp  wrangling;  out  on  the  green, 
others  refreshed  their  knowledge  of  spear-throw- 
ing; around  the  tables,  still  others  plied  sharpen- 
ing stones  upon  ax  blades  which  would  never  be 
used  for  trees.  Setting  forth  with  their  last  load 
of  outfittings  for  the  ship,  the  Champions  shouted 
a  battle-song  in  the  face  of  the  muttering  thunder : 

"  And  as  the  foeman's  ships  drew  near 
The  dreadful  din  you  well  might  hear ; 
Savage  Berserks  roaring  mad, 
And  champions  fierce  in  wolf-skins  clad, 
Howling  like  wolves  ;  and  clanking  jar 
Of  many  a  mail-clad  man  of  war." 

"  Let  us  not  try  to  settle  in  another  place  until 
we  are  off  our  feet  on  account  of  old  age,"  Brand 
226 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S    GAME 


spoke  with  energy.  "  Karlsefne  says  truly  that 
Norsemen  are  too  wolf-like  to  endure  it  when  they 
are  penned  like  sheep.  Let  us  live  like  Fridtjof  the 
Bold,  with  the  ship  for  our  hall  and  the  sky  for 
our  roof." 

"  And  strike  where  we  choose,"  Erlend  added. 
"  There  is  no  good  reason  why  we  should  never 
make  warfare  against  any  but  dwarfs.  I  have 
heard  it  said  that  fine  things  are  to  be  found  in 
Ireland " 

"  And  in  England —  "  "  And  in  Rolf's  coun- 
try—  "  "  And  the  East —  "  cried  a  chorus ;  and 
each  began  at  once  to  urge  the  merits  of  his  par- 
ticular choice  amid  an  eager  clamor  that  was  inter- 
rupted only  by  their  arrival  at  the  path  which 
wound  down  between  the  boulders. 

There,  however,  the  interruption  was  final. 
Glancing  over  the  boulders,  the  first  boy  shrieked : 
"What!"  the  second  one:  "Where—?"  then,  all 
together,  they  roared:  "The  ship!"  and  tumbled 
one  over  the  other  and  out  upon  the  beach.  Save 
for  the  rollers  which  lay  where  they  had  left  them, 
not  a  vestige  was  to  be  seen  of  The-Fire-That- 
Runs-On-The- Waves. 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

Some  of  them  cried :  "  The  tide !  "  while  others 
cried:  "  Skraellings !  "  And  one  detachment  went 
swarming  up  the  trees  of  the  bank  to  sweep  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  bay;  and  the  other, 
drawing  swords,  raced  along  the  shore  to  explore 
the  crescent  curves  with  which  it  was  scalloped. 
But  neither  party  brought  back  any  news  to  the 
third  group,  that  seemed  as  yet  unable  to  do  more 
than  stand  staring  at  the  rollers  and  ejaculating. 
The  clue  came  from  a  peevish  voice  on  the  bank 
above  them : 

"  I  think  you  have  little  reason  to  boast  of  your 
eyesight  if  it  has  not  yet  told  you  that  I  am  here." 
Above  the  rocks  a  thin  face  rose,  wanly  white  in 
the  glare  of  the  lightning  that  was  shivering  across 
the  sky. 

Shrieking :  "  Hallad !  "  the  band  whirled  up  the 
beach  like  wind-driven  sand;  and  their  chief  had 
taken  several  steps  to  follow  them  before  he  pulled 
himself  up  and  turned  around  to  face  the  intruder 
firmly. 

"  This  looks  to  be  an  evil  happening,  if  any  one 
thinks  you  to  be  of  importance,  which  I  do  not. 
No  fault  of  ours  is  it  that  you  were  drowned.  Why 
228 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S    GAME 

do  you  not  stay  under  the  water  with  the  other 
dead  men  ?  " 

The  colorless  lips  showed  a  curl.  "  Dead 
men !  Do  you  think  that  if  I  had  a  ghost's  power 
I  would  allow  Thorhall  to  bind  me,  and  stay  up 
here  to  be  made  a  gazing-stock— 

"  Thorhall !  "  Alrek  repeated ;  and  he  came  a 
step  nearer,  so  that  Brand  and  Erlend  and  the 
Ugly  One,  pausing  in  their  flight  to  look  around 
for  him,  took  courage  and  came  a  little  way  back. 
"  I  do  not  know  why  it  did  not  come  to  my  mind 
sooner  that  the  Huntsman  had  a  hand  in  this 
matter.  Yet  he  would  scarcely  be  able  to  do  it 

alone." 

"  There  was  little  need  to.  After  such  a  stir- 
ring-up  as  took  place  yesterday,  men  might  be 
expected  to  be  ready  for  any  fun.  There  were  no 
less  than  twenty  of  them  with  him,  and  their  spirits 
scraped  the  sky.  Had  it  not  happened  that  their 
humor  was  so  good,  it  is  likely  they  would  have 
killed  me  when  they  found  out  that  I  had  followed 
them  here,  instead  of  doing  no  more  than  tie  me  so 
that  I  should  not  give  the  alarm  too  soon.  They 
left  at  daybreak.  I  managed  it  to  pull  one  arm  free 
229 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

and  slide  down  on  the  ground  and  get  some  sleep, 
but  the  thongs  are  like  red-hot  irons  upon  my 
ankles.  Fetch  your  knife  up  here  as  quickly  as 
you  can,  and  free  me." 

Alrek  was  taking  another  step  toward  him, 
when  the  expostulations  of  his  comrades  brought 
him  again  to  a  standstill.  "  If  you  are  not 
drowned,  what  is  the  reason?  "  he  inquired. 

The  claw-like  hands  beat  the  rock  fretfully. 
"  One  reason  is  because  I  never  fell  into  the  water. 
Whether  Thorhall  told  you  so  or  not,  I  was  not 
with  him  when  he  was  wrecked  on  the  Cape.  Two 
days  before  that,  he  had  deserted  me  in  the  south 
country  because  I  was  overlong  in  getting  back  to 
the  boat  after  an  exploring  trip.  It  had  happened 
twice  before  that  I  was  rather  late,  and  he  pre- 
tended to  think  that  this  time  also  it  was  careless- 
ness. It  is  the  truth  that  I  had  hurt  my  leg  and 
could  not  get  back  earlier.  It  took  me  three  weeks 
after  that  to  make  my  way  here.  By  that  time  he 
had  got  home  and  told  every  one  that  I  was  dead; 
and  he  took  it  so  ill  that  I  should  belie  him  that  he 
would  have  made  it  the  truth  if  I  had  not  run  away. 
The  time  you  saw  me  climbing  out  of  the  ice-hole 
230 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S    GAME 


which  I  had  fallen  through,  was  one  time  when  I 
barely  got  away  from  him.  After  that,  however,  it 
was  less  difficult ;  for  when  he  saw  how  you  ran  from 
me,  he  was  willing  that  I  should  stay  alive  so  long 
as  I  remained  dead.  The  reason  I  have  the  appear- 
ance of  a  dead  man  is  because  I  can  not,  more  than 
others,  get  fat  and  color-full  on  fish  and  raw  eggs 
and  water."  He  broke  off  impatiently :  "  Is  it  not 
clear  to  you  yet,  you  blocks  of  peat  ?  " 

The  Champions  looked  at  one  another  doubt- 
fully. It  sounded  reasonable,  and  yet— 

"  You  have  always  made  it  a  point  that  your 
foster-father,  Biorn,  should  help  you  out  of  diffi- 
culties. What  is  the  reason  that  you  did  not  go  to 
him  with  this  one?  "  Brand  demanded. 

At  least,  Hallad's  temper  was  alive ;  it  sparkled 
in  his  hollow  eye-sockets.  "  As  well  go  to  Biorn's 
dogs  because  they  have  teeth !  It  seems  to  me  that 
you  have  been  fooled  enough  to  be  able  to  under- 
stand that  the  glance  of  Thorhall's  sly  green 
eyes  has  more  power  in  it  than  Biorn's  blundering 

fist." 

Though  it  is  a  strange  thing,  it  is  true  that 
for  the  time  being  they  had  forgotten  the  ship.    Of 
16  231 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

one  accord  they  started  forward  as  it  came  back 
to  them. 

"  You  know  how  much  of  the  story  is  true —  " 
"  — what  he  did  intend — '  "  Give  us  your  opin- 
ion whither  he  has  gone ' 

"  I  —  will  —  not  —  tell  —  you  —  one  —  thing 
—  until  —  you  —  come  —  up  —  here  —  and  —  re- 
lease —  me,"  Hallad's  thin  lips  bit  off  his  decision. 

Alrek  set  forth  his  counter-condition.  "  If  you 
will  allow  me  to  prick  your  skin  with  my  sword 
so  that  I  see  blood  come  out  of  your  flesh,  I  will 
believe  that  you  are  not  a  ghost." 

One  of  the  skeleton-like  arms  was  stretched 
over  the  rock  before  he  had  finished.  Drawing 
his  sword,  he  went  forward  and  scratched  a  cross 
upon  it ;  the  lines  were  instantly  blurred  with  blood. 
Without  more  ado,  he  climbed  up  the  bank  and 
around  the  boulder  and  cut  the  bands,  and  the  ghost 
returned  his  hand-clasp  with  most  unghostlike 
pressure, — after  which  he  sank  down  upon  the 
bank  to  rub  his  chafed  ankles. 

"  It  was  like  his  spitefulness  to  tie  them  so 
tight,"  he  whimpered.  "  And  besides  this,  I  am 
starved.  If  there  are  any  tidings  you  want  to 
232 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S    GAME 


know,  you  would  better  be  quick  about  asking, 
before  I  take  myself  where  I  can  get  some  curds 
and  bread." 

From  their  answer  it  appeared  that  they  had 
several  things  to  ask.     "  Tell  us  where  he  is  going 
with  our  ship —  "     "  Tell  us  how  much  truth  there 
was  in  the  dwarf-story—         "  No,  about  his  pur- 
pose in  sharing  his  secret- 
While  one  of  Hallad's  hands  continued  rubbing 
his  ankles,  the  other  one  scratched  his  head.    "  Now 
if  he  has  gabbled  about  dwarfs,  it  docs  not  appear 
to  me  that  he  did  share  his  secret.    Certainly  I  did 
not  see  any  dwarfs,  nor  hear  of  any.    One  day  when 
Thord  and  I  had  staid  with  the  boat  and  he  and 
Swipdag  had  gone  far  inland,  he  came  back  with 
a  gold  chain ;  and  they  both  said  that  they  had  seen 
Asbrandsson,  the  Broadwicker's  Champion  whom 
Snorri   Godi   outlawed   from  Iceland  many,  years 
ago.     Where  a  story  passes  through  many  mouths 
it  is  likely  to  become  somewhat  chewed,  and  it  may 
be  that  they  were  lying  then  also;  but  they  told 
how  Asbrandsson  related  about  a  settlement  which 
white  men  from  Ireland  had  made  further  south. 
He  dwelt  among  them,  he  said;  but  it  seemed  that 
233 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

they  lived  too  quietly  and  sang  too  many  priest- 
songs  to  please  him  well,  and  therefore  he  would 
like  to  come  to  Vinland  if  so  be  that  Karlsefne  the 
Lawman  would  admit  a  fellow  of  his  bad  fame. 
As  a  present  to  get  him  good-will,  he  sent  the 
Lawman  a  chain  by  Thorhall;  but  that  Thorhall 
put  it  to  other  uses  is  easily  guessed.  It  is  less 
easy  to  know  whither  he  intends  taking  the  ship. 
It  may  be  that  he  has  gone  south;  and  it  may  be, 
as  I  said  before,  that  the  story  of  White  Man's 
Land  is  also  a  lie." 

They  loosed  mouthfuls  of  angry  denunciations. 
"  But  why  take  so  much  trouble  to  make  up  a 
story — "  "  What  aid  was  it  expected  that  we 
should  give?  "  "  Why  did  he  not  give  the  message 
to  the  Lawman  ?  " 

"  Now  are  you  so  witless  that  I  do  not  wonder 
he  found  pleasure  in  fooling  you,"  Hallad  snapped 
as  he  got  painfully  upon  his  feet.  "  How  would 
he  have  got  booty  if  he  had  told  Karlsefne,  who 
would  have  forbidden  fighting  between  the  settle- 
ments? It  is  likely  that  he  made  up  the  dwarf- 
story  because  he  thought  it  unadvisable  to  trust 
you  with  the  truth.  And  the  reason  he  stood  in 
234 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S    GAME 


need  of  you  was  because  it  was  necessary  that  he 
should  have  some  one  to  fight  under  him,  and  until 
yesterday  the  men  would  not  listen  to  him.  It  is 
not  certain,  however,  that  he  would  not  have  taken 
the  ship  alone  anyway,  after  Alrek  got  back  to 
the  chieftainship.  It  appears  that  the  Sword- 
Bearer's  power  is  greater  than  the  Huntsman 
liked." 

Alrek  straightened  from  the  boulder  against 
which  he  was  leaning,  and  put  out  his  hand  as 
Hallad  turned  and  planted  a  foot  higher  up  the 
path. 

"  There  is  one  question  more — about  the  man 
who  killed  the  first  Skraelling.  Do  you  know  who 
that  is?" 

Pausing  with  one  foot  up  and  one  foot  down, 
Hallad  looked  at  them  strangely.  "  Do  you  not 
all  know  ?  "  he  asked  at  last. 

They  cried  in  one  triumphant  breath :  "  It  was 
the  Huntsman ! " 

"The    Huntsman?"     Hallad    repeated,    and 
amazement  was  too  plain  in  his  voice  to  be  mis- 
taken.    After  a  minute,  he  grasped  a  down-hang- 
ing root  and  pulled  himself  up  to  the  next  step, 
235 


THE    VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

and  would  have  departed  without  another  word  if 
Alrek  had  not  reached  up  and  clasped  him  around 
the  ankle. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that?"  the  Sword- 
Bearer  asked  him.  "  If  it  was  not  Thorhall,  who 
was  it?  I  shall  not  let  you  go  until  you  tell  me." 
He  gripped  the  raw  ankle  harder  than  he  knew ; 
Hallad  gave  a  great  gasp  of  mingled  pain  and 
anger. 

"  I  have  not  as  yet  said  too  much,  but  I  think 
I  need  not  spare  you  since  you  challenge  me!  It 
was  you  yourself;  my  own  eyes  saw  you.  It  hap- 
pened that  I  was  hiding  behind  a  wood-pile  in  the 
hope  that  I  could  slip  into  one  of  the  booths  and 
get  a  weapon  for  myself.  I  saw  you  fall,  and  I  saw 
the  Skraelling  lean  over  you  and  make  a  grab  at 
your  sword;  whereupon  you  leaped  up  and  buried 
the  hatchet  in  his  head,  and  he  toppled  over  into  the 
hollow — Now  there  is  no  need  of  your  looking  at 
me  in  that  manner!  I  would  not  have  spoken  if 
you  had  not  dared  me.  I  will  say  nothing  about  it 
anywhere  else.  I " 

But  it  is  not  likely  that  Alrek  heard ;  he  stood 
236 


THE    HUNTSMAN'S   GAME 


as  though  turned  to  stone,  gazing  at  the  speaker 
out  of  horror-widened  eyes.  "  You  saw  .  .  .  me 
.  .  .  do  it  ?  "  he  breathed. 

Looking  down  upon  him,  Hallad's  face  was  red 
and  regretful.  Although  it  was  plain  that  no 
great  boldness  was  in  his  spirit,  it  was  also  clear 
that  his  mind  was  not  ill-intentioned.  "  A  great 
mishap  was  this  that  you  should  ask  me,"  he  stam- 
mered. "  I  suppose  it  was  the  knock  on  your  head 
that  caused  you  to  forget.  But  I  thought  that— 
Of  what  use  was  it  to  dig  it  up  again !  I  had  the 
intention  to  say  nothing  to  any  one.  It  seems 
most  likely  to  me  that  the  Huntsman  put  a  spell 
upon  you ;  his  eyes  are  more  than  equal  to  it.  You 
need  not  be  so  sensitive  as  to  blame.  So  long  as 
Karlsefne  has  pardoned  you  and  given  you  your 
honors  back,  your  fate  does  not  depend  on 

this " 

Through  his  speech,  the  voices  of  Gard  and 
Brand  and  Erlend  broke  shrilly:  "You  flung 
back  his  pardon!"  "You  bought  your  hon- 
ors  »  "  You  pledged  your  life  on  your  guilt- 
lessness ! " 

237 


THE    VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

Out  of  stiff  lips,  Alrek  confirmed  it :  "I 
pledged  my  life." 

Hallad  turned,  wailing,  and  ran  up  the  bank 
and  into  the  forest;  and  the  four  comrades  were 
left  to  face  it  together. 


238 


CHAPTER    XXI 

IN  WHICH  ALREK   SWORD-BEARER   FACES  DEATH 

BRAND  lay  on  the  ground,  shaking  with  great 
sobs ;  and  Gard  squatted,  half  sitting,  half  kneeling, 
his  huge  hand  crushing  to  powder  the  shells  he 
had  picked  up  without  knowing  what  he  did.  It 
spoke  much  for  the  lessons  the  two  had  learned  that 
neither  offered  plans  of  rebellion  or  suggested 
escaping  through  the  loophole  of  a  trick.  Dully, 
the  Ugly  One  spoke  to  Alrek  Sword-Bearer,  where 
he  stood  as  though  turned  to  stone. 

"  Alrek,  say  that  the  lie  did  not  make  it  any 
worse  for  you.  Let  me  have  that  to  remember." 

Alrek  answered  without  turning  his  eyes  from 
the  sullen  water,  wrinkled  now  with  rain-drops: 
"  It  did  not  make  it  any  worse  for  me.  ...  I  did 
you  wrong  in  believing  you  guilty." 

"Why  was  this  so?  If  only  we  could  have 
got  away  on  the  ship,  it  is  not  likely  that  you 
239 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

would  ever  have  found  it  out,"  Brand  sobbed  pas- 
sionately. 

"  I  wish  that  I  might  have  had  one  voyage  on 
The  Fire,"  Alrek  said  slowly.  "  More  than  any- 
thing else  I  like  to  stand  on  a  ship  when  the  wind 
is  blowing  under  her  wings,  and  feel  how  I  am 
being  carried  forward  into  happenings  of  interest. 
I  thought  I  had  many  such  voyages  before  me,  and 
that  I  should  accomplish  some  things  which  the 
saga-men  would  think  worth  talking  about.  And  I 
believed  that  I  should  die  in  a  manner  to  leave 
honor  behind  me.  Never  did  I  guess  in  the  deepest 
hiding-place  of  my  mind  that  I  should  be  put  to 
death  for  causing  the  defeat  of  my  chief —  "  His 
voice  broke  in  uncontrollable  revolt.  "  I  can  not 
believe  that  I  was  such  a  madman !  It  must  be  as 
he  says,  that  the  Huntsman  laid  a  spell  upon 
me.  I  can  not  believe  that  I  would  so  lose  my 
sense ! " 

"  It  is  often  said  in  Greenland  that  the  Hunts- 
man's eyes  are  capable  of  turning  curses  on  whom- 
soever he  will,"  Gard  said  heavily. 

"  It  was  seen  by  every  one  that  he  felt  hatred 
against  you,"  Brand  added  in  his  unsteady  voice. 
240 


ALREK    FACES    DEATH 


"  Ever  since  he  saw  that  you  had  better  sense  than 
others,  he  has  wished  you  evil." 

Lifting  his  head  out  of  his  hands,  Erlcnd  spoke 
bravely :  "  It  does  not  seem  likely  to  me  that 
Heaven  would  deal  with  you  so  unfairly.  It  is 
foolish  to  hurry  ahead  of  one's  luck.  I  have  hope 
of  getting  rid  of  this  trouble  because  of  Karlscfne's 
love  for  you.  Of  his  own  accord  he  offered  you 
mercy 

"  And  I  chose  justice,"  the  Sword-Bearer  re- 
minded him  grimly.  "  Do  you  not  see?  I  may  not 
even  ask  for  a  pardon.  It  is  a  jest  of  the  Fates, — 
a  nithing  jest!  "  It  may  be  that  his  voice  would 
have  broken  again  if  a  great  roar  of  thunder  had 
not  cut  him  short;  the  rapping  of  his  fists  was 
sharp  upon  the  boulder  at  which  he  was  staring 
down. 

But,  gradually,  the  control  which  seldom 
slipped  far  out  of  his  grasp  was  gathered  again 
into  his  hands.  When  once  more  it  was  quiet  save 
for  the  rustle  of  the  rain  on  the  leaves,  he  spoke 
steadily :  "  I  recollect  how  my  father  used  to  say 
that  a  soldier  had  a  low  mind  who  could  not  trust 
the  chief  he  had  chosen  enough  to  follow  him 


THE   VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

through  some  moves  which  he  could  not  under- 
stand. Now  it  is  certain  that  I  can  not  see  why 
Heaven  has  the  wish  to  turn  this  against  me,  but 
I  am  not  going  to  be  so  poor-spirited  as  to  make  a 
fuss  about  it.  Let  us  go  back  now.  Waiting  will 
not  help  if  death  is  fated  to  me." 

It  showed  again  the  discipline  they  had  gone 
through  that  although  Brand's  throat  was  rent 
anew  with  sobs  and  Gard's  face  became  as  white 
as  was  possible  to  its  swarthiness,  neither  had  any 
resistance  to  offer.  Rising  heavily,  they  followed 
their  chief  up  the  bank  and  along  the  wood-paths 
which  always  before  they  had  traveled  plan-laden 
and  light-footed  with  hope. 

Because  of  the  rain,  the  tables  under  the  trees 
were  deserted ;  what  sound  of  voices  there  was  came 
from  Karlsefne's  booth.  In  wordless  understand- 
ing the  comrades  walked  toward  it;  only  as  they 
passed  the  empty  booth  of  the  Champions,  Alrek 
spoke : 

"  It  is  likely  that  the  band  is  loitering  some- 
where in  the  woods  to  talk  about  the  fate  of  the 
ship.  I  am  glad  it  happened  so,  unless  they  come 
back  just  as  I  am  being  fetched  out.  I  give  it 


ALREK    FACES    DEATH 


into  your  hands,  Erlend,  to  sec  that  they  do  not 
behave  foolishly." 

Out  of  his  tear-stained  face,  Erlend's  honest 
blue  eyes  met  his  chief's  fairly.  "  I  will  see  that 
you  have  your  way,"  he  promised. 

Alrek,  walking  in  the  middle,  stretched  out  his 
arms  and  put  one  around  Erlend's  neck  and  one 
across  the  shoulders  of  Brand;  and  so  they  came, 
across  the  rain-beaten  green  in  silence.  At  the 
threshold,  they  paused  to  grasp  one  another's 
hands  strongly  and  long;  then  the  Sword-Bearer 
pushed  wide  the  half-open  door  and  they  went  in. 

In  the  dignity  of  his  high-seat  Karlsefne  sat, 
holding  council  with  his  chiefs.  Snorri  of  Iceland 
occupied  the  seat  of  honor  opposite  him;  and  on 
his  left  was  Gudrid,  and  on  his  right  the  burly  and 
big-hearted  Biorn  Gudbrandsson,  his  hand  still 
patting  the  shoulder  of  his  foster-son  who  sat  on 
the  footstool  before  him,  munching  bread  as  though 
he  would  never  leave  off.  That  the  excitement  of 
Hallad's  return  had  subsided,  however,  was  evident 
since  it  was  of  something  altogether  different  that 
the  Lawman  was  speaking  as  the  Champions 

entered. 

243 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

"  You  need  not  get  afraid  that  I  undervalue 
your  power  of  fighting,"  he  was  saying  to  the 
triple  rank  of  sullen  faces  that  lined  the  walls. 
"  That  one  Northman  is  more  than  equal  to  one 
Skraelling — provided  he  can  get  within  arm's 
reach  of  him — I  do  not  deny.  It  would  be  a 
strange  thing  if  Northmen  could  not  fight,  after 
the  practise  they  have  had !  What  I  want  to  get 
into  your  heads  is  that  you  will  never  face  them 
one  to  one,  nor  one  to  five,  nor  yet  one  to  ten ;  but 
that  they  will  always  come  in  herds  and  shoals  and 
swarms,  as  when  the  Lord  sends  a  plague  of 
creatures  on  a  country.  For  I  think  it  is  as  a 
plague  they  have  come  upon  us.  Here  the  All- 
Father  had  spread  a  Heaven-like  land,  and  stored 
it  with  food  and  property  for  all.  Here  He 
brought  us  in  peace  to  take  as  free  gifts  whatso- 
ever we  would.  It  might  have  been  a  never-emptied 
treasure-house  for  all  our  race,  a  peace-land  for 
Northmen  of  all  time.  The  trouble  that  has  come 
into  it  is  of  our  own  bringing,  brought  in  our  blood 
as  vermin  are  brought  in  ships.  The  hand  of  the 
Lord  is  against  us;  it  is  my  advice  that  we  bow 
before  His  wrath.  Natures  such  as  ours  have  no 
244 


ALREK    FACES    DEATH 


right  to  softer  things  than  Greenland  cold  and 
Iceland  rock.  It  is  my  ruling  that  when  the  spring 
comes  we  shall  go  back  over  the  ocean." 

Like  a  mighty  bell  tolling  for  a  death,  his 
voice  echoed  through  the  hall.  For  a  time  they 
seemed  awed  against  their  will ;  and  here  and  there 
a  man  made  the  cross-sign.  But  presently  the 
heavy  voice  of  Hjalmar  Thick-Skull  was  heard 
saying  to  his  neighbor: 

"  A  Viking  voyage,  comrade, — that  is  what  it 
means !  A  Viking  voyage  from  Norway  before  the 
grass  comes  up  again  !  " 

Quickly  those  around  him  caught  up  the  words : 
"  Viking  voyages, — that  is  true !  "  "  Hail  to  the 
Lawman  !  "  "  Ho  for  Norway  !  "  "  For  England 
and  the  Danes  !  "  "  Ho  for  warrior-life  again  !  " 
"  Hail !  "  "  Hail !  "  "  Hail !  "  Their  swelling 
cheers  vied  with  the  thunder  pealing  overhead. 

To  Alrek  Ingolfsson,  waiting  with  blood- 
marked  lips  held  between  his  teeth,  further  delay 
was  unbearable.  Suddenly  he  made  a  step  forward 
where  Karlsefne's  gaze  would  fall  upon  him  from 
the  high-seat.  As  he  had  expected,  the  Lawman 
spoke  with  frozen  courtesy : 
245 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

"  The  Chief  of  the  Champions  has  a  right  to 
his  place  in  the  council.  I  give  him  greeting  and 
ask  him  to  come  forward  and  take  the  place  that 
belongs  to  him." 

The  Chief  of  the  Champions  went  forward, 
but  he  did  not  take  his  place  upon  the  bench. 
Standing  before  the  footstool  of  the  high-seat  he 
spoke  briefly : 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  greeting,  but  I  came  to 
claim  no  right,  but  to  render  the  pledge  I  made.  It 
has  happened  that  Hallad  saw  me  kill  the  Skrael- 
ling,  in  that  time  which  I  lost  out  of  my  mind."  He 
could  not  bring  himself  to  meet  Karlsefne's  eyes 
when  he  had  finished,  but  turned  away  and  laid  a 
hand  on  Gard's  shoulder  and  hid  his  face  on  his 
arm. 

Above  the  hubbub  that  rose,  two  voices  made 
themselves  heard,  Gudrid's  crying  distressfully  :  "  I 
do  not  believe  it !  "  and  Hallad's  wailing :  "  Why 
do  you  betray  yourself  ?  "  Then  the  Lawman  spoke 
in  a  tone  that  silenced  them  both: 

"  Let  Hallad  tell  what  he  has  seen." 

It  is  but  justice  to  Hallad  to  say  that  he  would 
have  refused  if  he  had  dared ;  and  not  daring,  he 
246 


ALREK   FACES    DEATH 


mingled  his  recital  with  pleas  for  mercy.     But  the 
terrible  evidence  had  to  come  out  at  last. 

When  the  tale  was  finished  and  the  teller  had 
sunk  down  in  tears  upon  Biorn's  footstool,  Alrek 
lifted  a  face  that  seemed  pale  because  such  black 
misery  was  in  his  brown  eyes. 

"  I  ask  you  only  to  believe  that  when  I  said  I 
was  innocent,  I  did  not  know  that  I  was  guilty." 

After  a  while  the  Lawman  bent  his  head.  "  I 
believe  that,"  he  granted.  But  he  granted  no  more ; 
and  his  closed  mouth  was  like  a  line  graven  on 
stone. 

It  was  as  though  the  wind  had  brought  a  breath 
from  a  glacier  through  the  warm  summer  day. 
No  man's  heart  but  felt  the  chill;  and  gradually 
the  whispers,  even  the  motions,  ceased  and  the  room 
was  as  still  as  a  Greenland  winter. 

Slowly  the  Lawman  rose  and  stood  before  his 
high-seat,  an  awe-full  figure  as  the  light  fell  coldly 
on  the  chiseled  beauty  of  his  face  and  the  iron  of 
his  hair  and  his  beard. 

"  I  believe  that  you  did  not  know  your  guilt," 
he  said,  "  but  I  believe  also  that  you  acted  out 
your  true  nature  when  you  did  the  slaying.    What 
17  247 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

Hallad  says  about  the  Huntsman's  spell-power  is 
child's  talk.  No  spell  was  on  your  father  when 
he  committed  such  crimes,  and  none  was  on  you 
when  you  attacked  the  Skraelling  on  the  Cape  of 
the  Crosses.  I  think  now  what  I  have  thought 
always, — that  you  struck  this  blow  in  the  Berserk 
madness  which  is  like  poison  in  your  blood;  even 
as  you  struck  on  the  Cape,  even  as  you  would 
strike  again  though  the  welfare  of  a  thousand  men 
should  hang  on  your  peacefulness.  The  cause  of  a 
hundred  you  have  already  defeated  because  I  par- 
doned you  once ;  I  dare  not  risk  sparing  you  again. 
You  offered  me  your  life.  I  take  it.  There  is  a 
gallows  ready  where  a  pine-tree  stands  by  the 
Skraelling's  mound.  It  is  my  command  that  Lodin 
and  Asgrim  and  the  men  beside  them,  put  you  into 
fetters  and  take  you  forth  and  hang  you  there." 

Gudrid  fell  back  in  a  half-swoon,  and  through 
the  hall  swelled  a  murmur  like  the  rush  of  a  rising 
wave.  But  the  Lawman  stretched  forth  his  hand, 
the  flash  of  his  eyes  like  the  gleam  of  ice  in  the 
moonlight;  and  the  wave  fell,  sputtering  and 
hissing,  until  it  had  smoothed  out  into  silence. 

Alrek  Ingolfsson  spoke  only  once,  when  they 
248 


ALREK    FACES    DEATH 


had  finished  pinioning  his  arms.  "  Like  a  sheep- 
killing  dog !  "  he  said  under  his  breath ;  and  his 
head  sank  beneath  its  weight  of  shame,  and  he  did 
not  raise  it  again  but  went  away  without  looking 
into  any  one's  face. 

With  the  opening  of  the  door  came  in  the  noise 
of  rushing  wind ;  then  the  door  closed  upon  it,  and 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  hall 
there  was  no  sound  save  for  the  half-sobbing 
breaths  of  Gudrid  struggling  back  from  her  swoon, 
and  no  motion  until  all  at  once  the  Lawman  sank 
into  his  high-seat  and  covered  his  face  with  his 
mantle. 

It  is  a  strange  thing  that  at  the  moment  Karl- 
sefne's  eyes  were  covered,  the  veil  fell  from  Gud- 
rid's.  Lighting  on  Hallad,  her  glance  rested  there 
dully  for  a  while ;  then  all  at  once  it  sharpened  to 
more  than  ordinary  keenness.  Rising  from  her 
seat,  she  leveled  one  slender  arm  at  the  cowering 

figure. 

"I  think  you  did  the  slaying  yourself!"  she 

breathed. 

At  Hallad's  recoil  and  Biorn's  bewildered  query, 
the  Lawman  looked  up  questioningly ;  and  Gudrid 
249 


THE    VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

put  her  other  hand  upon  his  shoulder  and  shook 
him  in  her  passion  of  eagerness. 

"  Will  you  allow  your  kinsman  to  die  because 
of  your  slowness?  Promise  life  to  this  coward  and 
he  will  confess  guilt.  I  see  it  in  his  face." 

But  the  Lawman  had  no  need  to  speak,  for  this 
sudden  focusing  of  all  eyes  upon  Hallad  lay 
bare  his  secret  like  a  bolt  from  the  skies,  and 
struck  him  down  at  Gudrid's  feet. 

"  It  was  the  Huntsman  who  made  me ! "  he 
screamed,  and  groveled  shrieking  it  over  and  over. 
Gradually,  his  foster-father  gathered  from  the 
broken  words  that  the  Huntsman  had  made  it  the 
one  condition  of  his  remaining  alive  and  coming 
back  to  camp  after  his  own  departure,  that  he 
should  break  up  the  peace  by  a  man-slaying;  and 
he  had  used  the  stone  hatchet,  which  he  had  stolen 
from  Alrek's  unconscious  body,  because  that 
chanced  to  be  his  only  weapon  when  a  moment 
later  he  came  unexpectedly  upon  the  Skraelling. 

But  only   Biorn,  his   foster-father,  stayed  to 

hear  more.    At  the  first  cry,  Karlsef ne  had  crossed 

the  booth  in  three  strides  and  vanished  through  the 

door,  and  Gudrid  had  followed  him,  and  the  three 

250 


ALREK   FACES    DEATH 


Champions.  And  now  the  maids  and  the  throng 
of  men  turned  from  Hallad  and  streamed  out  into 
the  clearing  air  and  across  the  green  toward  the 
Champions'  booth,  beyond  which  a  knot  of  people 
stood  under  a  pine-tree  from  whose  outreaching 
bough  dangled  a  grape-vine  noose. 

The  loop  was  empty,  for  Alrek  Sword-Bcarer 
stood  below,  freed  of  his  bonds,  his  head  bent  over 
Gudrid's  hands ;  and  Karlsef ne  was  speaking  with 
a  quiver  in  his  deep  voice : 

"  I  will  make  this  up  to  you  a  hundredfold. 
My  smiths  shall  build  you  another  ship  and  a  finer 
one,  and  you  shall  furnish  it  from  my  stores  and 
have  the  rule  over  it  and  take  it  where  you  choose. 
My  own  son  shall  have  no  larger  share  in  my 
property  and  my  honor  and  my  love." 

Alrek  lifted  his  brown  eyes,  glowing  golden 
like  the  sunshine  filtering  through  the  rain-washed 
air;  through  lips  not  yet  steady,  he  answered: 
"  The  debt  will  be  more  than  paid." 

Suddenly    Karlsefne    laid    a    hand    upon    his 

shoulder  and  spoke  so  that  all  around  could  hear: 

"  I  will  call  no  voyage  unlucky  which  has  brought 

me  to  know  a  man  with  so  high  a  mind  and  so 

251 


THE    VINLAND   CHAMPIONS 

brave  a  heart.  I  look  on  this  as  a  proof  that  good 
intentions  will  get  the  victory  over  evil  in  the  most 
unexpected  way ;  and  I  will  take  it  as  an  omen  that 
the  good  which  I  have  tried  to  get  out  of  this  land 
for  my  countrymen  will  come  to  them  yet  in  some 
way  which  I  can  not  now  see.  We  will  go  back 
neither  bitterly  nor  despairingly,  but  giving 
thanks  for  the  good  we  have  received  and  cherish- 
ing hope  for  the  future.  Now,  it  is  my  offer  and 
will  that  every  one  in  hearing  shall  come  to-night 
to  the  best  feast  I  can  make,  in  honor  of  the  Chief 
of  the  Vinland  Champions  and  his  men." 

It  is  a  good  thing  that  he  intended  to  stop 
there  for  not  another  word  could  be  heard,  such 
jubilating  and  weapon-clatter  went  up;  and  the 
Champions  took  their  chief  upon  their  shoulders 
and  bore  him  back  in  triumph,  followed  by  a  cheer- 
ing train. 


THE  END 


252 


EPILOGUE 

THESE  are  the  rest  of  the  sayings  about  this 
expedition. 

All  the  ships  came  safely  to  Greenland  except 
the  vessel  of  Biorn  Gudbrandsson,  which  was  driven 
out  into  the  ocean  that  stretches  between  Green- 
land and  Iceland  and  there  came  into  a  worm-filled 
sea.  By  the  time  Biorn  had  discovered  their 
danger,  the  ship  was  worm-eaten  beneath  them ; 
and  it  was  seen  that  the  only  way  was  to  go  down 
into  their  long-boat  which  was  coated  with  seal  tar. 
Since  the  boat  was  too  small  to  hold  more  than  half 
of  them,  they  cast  lots  for  the  places ;  and  it  fell 
to  Biorn  and  half  of  the  men  to  go  down  in  safety, 
while  the  other  half  remained  with  the  sinking 
vessel.  No  one  thought  of  making  any  fuss  about 
this  save  the  boy  who  had  come  with  Biorn  from 
Iceland.  When  he  saw  the  others  go  down  into 
the  boat,  he  began  to  whimper : 

"  Do  you  intend,  Biorn,  to  leave  me  here?  " 
253 


THE   VINLAND    CHAMPIONS 

Biorn  glanced  up  at  him  absently.  "  So  it 
seems,"  he  answered. 

The  boy  began  to  sob.  "  You  did  not  promise 
my  father  that  you  would  part  from  me  like  this, 
when  I  left  Iceland  with  you,"  he  said.  "  You 
promised  that  we  should  always  share  the  same 
fate." 

Biorn  made  the  men  a  sign  that  they  were  not 
yet  to  cast  the  boat  loose.  Big-hearted  kindliness 
was  in  his  voice  as  always. 

"  So  be  it,"  he  answered.  "  It  shall  not  remain 
this  way,  since  you  are  so  eager  for  life.  Do  you 
come  down  here  and  I  will  go  up  on  the  ship." 

It  may  be  imagined  that  the  young  Icelander 
lost  little  time  obeying.  When  he  had  come  down, 
the  chief  went  back  upon  the  vessel;  and  the  two 
parties  separated.  In  time,  the  men  of  the  long- 
boat came  to  Dublin  in  Ireland,  where  they  told 
this  story ;  but  it  is  believed  by  most  people  that 
Biorn  and  those  with  him  went  down  in  the  sea  of 
worms,  for  they  were  never  heard  of  again. 

It  is  but  little  more  than  this  which  is  known 
about  the  fate  of  the  Huntsman  and  his  followers. 
One  time,  traders  came  back  to  Greenland  with  the 
254 


EPILOGUE 


talc  that  Thorhall  had  been  shipwrecked  in  Ireland, 
and  that  his  men  had  been  made  thralls  of  and 
grievously  misused,  and  that  he  had  met  his  death 
there.  No  one  ever  got  other  tidings  than  these. 

Better  luck  went  with  Thorfinn  Karlsefne  and 
Gudrid  and  those  in  their  following,  for  the  sum- 
mer after  they  had  landed  in  Greenland  they  went 
home  to  Iceland,  and  lived  there  in  great  splendor 
and  happiness ;  and  many  famous  men  and  high- 
minded  women  have  descended  from  them. 

Best  luck  of  all,  the  foretelling  of  Karlsefne 
has  come  true;  and  despite  delays  and  hindrances, 
his  countrymen  have  found  a  peace-land  and  a 
never-emptied  treasure-house  not  only  in  Vinland 
the  Good  but  in  the  whole  of  the  new-world  coun- 
try which  those  who  are  alive  to-day  call  America 
the  Free. 

(i) 


255 


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By  MOLLY  ELLIOT  SEAWELL.    With  8  full-page  Illustrations. 

Midshipman  Paulding. 

A  True  Story  of  the  War  of  1812.     By  MOLLY  ELLIOT  SEAWELL. 
With  6  full-page  Illustrations. 

Little  Jarvis. 

The  Story  of  the  Heroic  Midshipman  of  the  Frigate  Constellation. 
By  MOLLY  ELLIOT  SEAWELL.     With  6  full-page  Illustrations. 

D.    APPLETON     AND    COMPANY,     NEW     YORK. 


BY  WILLIAM  O.  STODDARD. 


Each  Illustrated.     121110.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

The  Fight  for  the  Valley. 

Colored  Frontispiece  and  other  Illustrations. 
A  narrative  of  the  brave  defence  of  Fort  Schuyler  and  the  battle  of  Oriskany. 

The  Spy  of  Yorktown. 

Illustrated.     Colored  Frontispiece. 
A  story  of  the  Yorktown  campaign  and  Benedict  Arnold. 

With  the  Black  Prince. 

A  Story  of  Adventure  in  the  Fourteenth  Century.  Illustrated  by 
B.  West  Clinedinst. 

The  absorbing  interest  of  this  stirring  historical  romance  will  appeal  to  all  young 
readers. 

Success  Against  Odds ;  or,  How  an  American  Boy  made  his 

Way. 
Illustrated  by  B.  West  Clinedinst. 

In  this  spirited  and  interesting  story  Mr.  Stoddard  tells  the  adventures  of  a 
plucky  boy  who  fought  his  own  battles,  and  made  his  way  upward  from  poverty  in 
a  Long  Island  seashore  town.  It  is  a  tale  of  pluck  and  self-reliance  capitally  told. 

The  Red  Patriot. 

A  Story  of  the  American  Revolution.  Illustrated  by  B.  West 
Clinedinst. 

The  Windfall ;  or,  After  the  Flood. 
Illustrated  by  B.  West  Clinedinst. 

Chris,  the  Model-Maker. 

A  Story  of  New  York.  With  6  full-page  Illustrations  by  B.  West 
Clinedinst. 

On  the  Old  Frontier. 

With  10  full-page  Illustrations. 

The  Battle  of  New  York. 

With  ii  full  page  Illustrations  and  colored  Frontispiece. 

Little  Smoke. 

A  Story  of  the  Sioux  Indians.  With  12  full-page  Illustrations  by 
F.  S.  Dellenbaugh,  portraits  of  Sitting  Bull,  Red  Cloud,  and  other 
chiefs,  and  72  head  and  tail  pieces  representing  the  various  imple- 
ments and  surroundings  of  Indian  life. 

Crowded  Out  o'  Crofield. 

The  Story  of  a  country  boy  who  fought  his  way  to  success  in  the 
great  metropolis.  With  23  Illustrations  by  C.  T.  Hill. 

D.     APPLETON     AND     COMPANY,     NEW    YORK. 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LfiflARY  MOUTY 


A     000  046  232     5 


